The inelastic mean free path (IMFP) of electrons impinging on a solid surface is defined as the average of distances, measured along the trajectories, that electrons with a given energy travel between inelastic collisions in the substance. It is an important parameter in analyzing results from surface characterization techniques such as Auger electron spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, and others. IMFPs can be measured by the elastic-peak electron spectroscopy technique and other methods, and they can be calculated from optical data. A detailed analysis of the experimental and theoretical considerations in obtaining reliable IMFP values can be found in Refs. 4 and 5.
Table 1 below gives recommended IMFP values for 41 elemental solids in the energy range 50 eV to 30000 eV. All values in Table 1 are taken from Ref. 1. Table 2 gives IMFP values for several inorganic and organic compounds in the range 50 eV to 2000 eV.
In Table 1 elements are listed in alphabetical order by symbol. The listing in Table 2 is by name, with inorganic materials preceding the organic materials. IMFP values are given in Ångström units (1 Å = 10–10 m).
Formula | Element | IMFP(50 eV)/Å | IMFP(100 eV)/Å | IMFP(250 eV)/Å | IMFP(500 eV)/Å | IMFP(750 eV)/Å | IMFP(1000 eV)/Å | IMFP(1250 eV)/Å | IMFP(1500 eV)/Å | IMFP(1750 eV)/Å | IMFP(2000 eV)/Å | IMFP(3000 eV)/Å | IMFP(5000 eV)/Å | IMFP(10000 eV)/Å | IMFP(15000 eV)/Å | IMFP(20000 eV)/Å | IMPF(30000 eV)/Å | Ref. |
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Ag | Silver | 6.1 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 8.7 | 11.6 | 14.2 | 16.8 | 19.2 | 21.6 | 24.0 | 33.0 | 50.0 | 89.3 | 126.2 | 161.6 | 229.7 | 1 |
Al | Aluminum | 3.5 | 4.6 | 7.9 | 12.7 | 17.1 | 21.3 | 25.4 | 29.4 | 33.3 | 37.2 | 52.0 | 79.9 | 144.8 | 206.0 | 265.1 | 378.8 | 1 |
Au | Gold | 5.1 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 8.4 | 11.0 | 13.5 | 15.9 | 18.2 | 20.5 | 22.7 | 31.1 | 47.1 | 83.9 | 118.4 | 151.5 | 215.1 | 1 |
Be | Beryllium | 3.5 | 4.3 | 7.2 | 11.7 | 15.9 | 19.9 | 23.8 | 27.6 | 31.2 | 34.9 | 48.8 | 75.3 | 136.7 | 194.7 | 250.6 | 358.4 | 1 |
Bi | Bismuth | 4.9 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 12.3 | 16.4 | 20.2 | 23.9 | 27.5 | 31.0 | 34.4 | 47.5 | 72.1 | 129.3 | 182.8 | 234.4 | 333.6 | 1 |
Ca | Carbon (graphite) | 4.8 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 10.8 | 14.6 | 18.2 | 21.7 | 25.0 | 28.3 | 31.6 | 44.0 | 67.6 | 122.2 | 173.7 | 223.3 | 318.9 | 1 |
Cb | Carbon (diamond) | 6.9 | 4.7 | 6.4 | 9.9 | 13.2 | 16.4 | 19.4 | 22.4 | 25.3 | 28.1 | 39.0 | 59.6 | 107.3 | 152.1 | 195.3 | 278.4 | 1 |
Cc | Carbon black | 5.8 | 6.3 | 10.0 | 16.0 | 21.7 | 27.0 | 32.1 | 37.1 | 42.0 | 46.8 | 65.4 | 100.4 | 181.9 | 258.6 | 332.7 | 475.4 | 1 |
Co | Cobalt | 5.1 | 4.6 | 6.1 | 9.0 | 11.8 | 14.5 | 17.2 | 19.8 | 22.3 | 24.8 | 34.2 | 51.9 | 92.9 | 131.4 | 168.3 | 239.5 | 1 |
Cr | Chromium | 4.5 | 4.4 | 6.4 | 9.9 | 13.2 | 16.3 | 19.4 | 22.3 | 25.2 | 28.0 | 38.8 | 59.2 | 106.4 | 150.7 | 193.4 | 275.6 | 1 |
Cs | Cesium | 6.3 | 9.3 | 17.4 | 29.3 | 40.3 | 50.8 | 61.0 | 71.0 | 80.7 | 90.2 | 126.8 | 196.1 | 357.6 | 510.4 | 657.9 | 942.8 | 1 |
Cu | Copper | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 13.6 | 16.7 | 19.6 | 22.6 | 25.4 | 28.2 | 39.0 | 59.2 | 105.7 | 149.5 | 191.5 | 272.4 | 1 |
Dy | Dysprosium | 4.5 | 4.6 | 6.8 | 10.6 | 14.1 | 17.5 | 20.8 | 23.9 | 27.0 | 30.0 | 41.7 | 63.5 | 114.0 | 161.5 | 207.2 | 295.1 | 1 |
Fe | Iron | 4.3 | 4.6 | 6.7 | 10.2 | 13.5 | 16.7 | 19.7 | 22.7 | 25.7 | 28.5 | 39.5 | 60.1 | 107.8 | 152.7 | 195.8 | 278.8 | 1 |
Gd | Gadolinium | 4.1 | 4.6 | 7.4 | 11.8 | 15.7 | 19.5 | 23.2 | 26.8 | 30.3 | 33.7 | 46.9 | 71.6 | 128.8 | 182.6 | 234.4 | 334.1 | 1 |
Ge | Germanium | 4.0 | 5.0 | 8.2 | 12.9 | 17.2 | 21.2 | 25.2 | 29.0 | 32.8 | 36.5 | 50.7 | 77.5 | 139.5 | 197.9 | 254.2 | 362.5 | 1 |
Hf | Hafnium | 5.5 | 5.5 | 7.5 | 11.3 | 14.9 | 18.2 | 21.5 | 24.6 | 27.7 | 30.7 | 42.3 | 64.2 | 114.4 | 161.5 | 206.7 | 293.8 | 1 |
In | Indium | 4.7 | 5.4 | 8.0 | 12.3 | 16.5 | 20.6 | 24.4 | 28.1 | 31.8 | 35.3 | 48.9 | 74.5 | 133.8 | 189.5 | 243.1 | 346.3 | 1 |
Ir | Iridium | 5.3 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 8.0 | 10.4 | 12.7 | 15.0 | 17.1 | 19.2 | 21.2 | 29.1 | 43.9 | 78.1 | 110.1 | 140.8 | 199.7 | 1 |
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