Quantification of ordering at a solid-liquid interface using plasmon electron energy loss spectroscopy

Abstract

We present an in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) study of ordering of liquid Al at various Al-Al2O3 interfaces. This technique utilizes precise measurements of the shifts in bulk plasmon resonance and their sensitivity to the valence electron density. Plasmon EELS combined with high resolution transmission electron microscopy provides information regarding the chemical composition in liquid Al at Al-Al2O3 interfaces. Preferential oxygen segregation to the (0006) Al2O3 plane was verified, and the (10 1 ¯ 2) Al2O3 plane was found to contain the lowest amount of segregated species.