Energy-loss spectra of Mo(100) clean and covered with oxygen

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Abstract
A high-resolution electron-impact spectrometer has been used to study the inelastic scattering of slow electrons (about 60 eV) on a molybdenum (100) face either clean or covered with oxygen. Surface effects were emphasized by the reflection technique on a massive sample. Energy-loss spectra are given which show features due to single and collective excitations of the conduction electrons. Volume and surface plasmons are identified, the latter by comparison with optical data and by its angular dependence. During oxygen adsorption the intensity and the position of the surface-plasmon peak are deeply modified and new peaks appear which are due to the excitation of molecular orbitals formed by chemisorption. These observations are related to the adsorption kinetics of oxygen on the (100) molybdenum face.