Reactive Ion Scattering of Low Energy Cs+ from Surfaces. A Technique for Surface Molecular Analysis

Although the currently available surface spectroscopic techniques provide powerful means of studying atoms and simple molecules on surfaces, the identification of complex molecules and functional groups is a major concern in surface analysis. This article describes a recently developed method of surface molecular analysis based on reactive ion scattering (RIS) of low energy (< 100 eV) Cs+ beams. The RIS method can detect surface molecules via a mechanism in which a Cs+ projectile picks up an adsorbate from the surface during the scattering process. The basic principles of the method are reviewed and its applications are discussed by showing several examples from studies of molecules and their reactions on surfaces.