Core excitation studies of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and molecular analogues by EELS

The near-edge region of core ionization edges can be used as a probe of the local bonding and structure of atoms excited by incident radiation, such as in electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) or x-ray absorption techniques. Recent installation of efficient parallel EELS spectrometers in ATEMs promotes study of these transitions in radiation sensitive materials such as polymers. To study relationships between poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET] structure and EELS transitions, we compared polymer spectra with molecular analogues. The PET examined (from Scientific Polymer Products) was cut using a diamond knife and a Reichert-Jung Ultracut E ultramicrotome with FC4E cryoattachment. A JEOL 2000FX TEM with a LaB 6 filament and a Gatan parallel-EELS system was used to examine PET sections on holey carbon. The gas phase EELS of molecules (from Aldrich, Matheson) was performed under inelastic scattering conditions as described previously.