electron energy loss spectroscopy

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a surface analysis technique that measures the energy lost by low-energy electrons when they collide with a surface. By analyzing these energy losses, scientists can study vibrational excitations on the surface.1

EELS is a form of electron spectroscopy, which involves measuring the kinetic energy of electrons emitted after a material is bombarded with X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, ions, or electrons. These methods are valuable in chemical analysis because differences in atomic arrangements affect the energy required to eject electrons. Electron diffraction, another related technique, utilizes the wavelike nature of electrons to study matter and confirm principles of quantum mechanics.234