Electronic structure of polyethylene: Theory and ESCA measurements

Abstract
Theoretical and experimental results for the band structure of polyethylene are presented. Theoretical results are obtained from both semiempirical (CNDO/2 and extended Hückel) and nonempirical methods. The density of states is measured by the ESCA method. An energy gap of 7.5 ± 0.5 eV and a C1s line at 284.6 eV are deduced. Although CNDO/2 results appear to be unreliable, the correlation between theory and observed density of states is found to be very good for extended Hückel and ab initio results.