Surface composition analysis by low-energy ion scattering

Abstract

Low-energy ion scattering (LEIS) is an analytical tool that provides information on the atomic composition of the outer surface, when noble gas ions are used as projectiles. In fact, quantitative composition analysis is currently done on a huge variety of materials, including catalysts and organic materials. The information on the surface composition is contained in the signal of backscattered ions (typically 1–3 keV He +,Ne +). In order to translate the LEIS signal to an elemental surface concentration all factors determining the LEIS signal must be known. These are in particular the scattering cross section and the ion fraction of the backscattered particles. The scattering cross section, which is due to the screened electrostatic potential between target atom and projectile, is well-known for the prevailing conditions of LEIS. It is an intriguing fact that, despite the large quantity of successful applications, the charge exchange processes in LEIS are not yet fully understood. It is e.g. not known why in LEIS for a given atomic species on the surface the signal usually does not depend on which other species are present (absence of matrix effects). Significant progress has recently been made in the understanding of the underlying charge exchange processes. Therefore, the aim of this review is twofold: on the one hand, to summarize the present understanding of the factors that determine the ion fraction of the scattered projectiles in LEIS, i.e. charge exchange processes. On the other hand, to summarize how quantitative surface composition analysis can be accomplished. In addition, we critically review publications that deal with surface composition analysis by LEIS, and analyze in which cases and by what means this was achieved and where and why it was successful or failed. After reading this review the reader will be able to deal with the pitfalls encountered in LEIS and to choose preferred experimental conditions for quantitative surface composition analysis.