Recoil effect in carbon structures and polymers

The recoil effect on quasi-elastic scattering of electrons has been describ ed by Boersch. The Rutherford type scattering on the nucleus produces a shi ft of the elastic peak maximum of DeltaE(em), proportional to 1/M (atomic m ass) and electron energy. Laser el. al. studied the recoil effect for exact calibration of the energy scale for XPS. The other effect is broadening of the elastic peak. Reflection electron energy loss spectra were studied by an electron spectrometer ESA 31 of high energy resolution. Various modifica tions of C (electrode and reactor graphite, glassy C, powder) and conductin g polymers (polyacetylene, polyaniline, polythiophene) have been studied wi th varying composition of C, O, H, S, Pd etc. In the case of the samples co ntaining different elements the complex nature of the elastic peaks (consis ting of the sum of components having different intensities and shifts) was clearly observed, Possible explanations for the recoil effects detected are reviewed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.