Electronic and optical properties of plutonium metal and oxides from Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy

Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectra (REELS) have been acquired on plutonium ?-Pu-Ga alloys, ?-Pu2O3 and PuO2. The position of the peaks attributable to the Pu 6p excitation can be used as ?fingerprint? for these species. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy has been used to aid interpretation of the REELS spectra. The band gap of PuO2 was determined from the onset of the energy loss in the REELS spectrum. The REELS data have been evaluated within the dielectric response theory by means of the QUEELS-?(k, w)-REELS software [Surf. Interface Anal. 36, (2004) 824]. The Energy Loss Function, dielectric function, refractive index and extinction coefficient for these materials have been determined in the ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet range and are compared to previously reported results. Crown copyright (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

REELS were used to study Pu-Ga alloys, α-Pu2O3, and PuO2, with the Pu 6p excitation peaks serving as fingerprints. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy aided in interpreting the REELS spectra, while the band gap of PuO2 was determined from the onset of energy loss. The data were evaluated using dielectric response theory, with comparisons made to previously reported results in the UV and EUV range.