Electron energy-loss near-edge structures of 3d transition metal oxides recorded at high-energy resolution

Near-edge fine structures of the metal L-2,L-3 and O K-edges in transition metal-oxides have been studied with a transmission electron microscope equipped with a monochromator and a high-resolution imaging filter. This system enables the recording of EELS spectra with an energy resolution of 0.1 eV thus providing new near-edge fine structure details which could not be observed previously by EELS in conventional TEM instruments. EELS-spectra from well-defined oxides like titanium oxide (TiO2), vanadium oxide (V2O5), chromium oxide (Cr2O3), iron oxide (Fe2O3), cobalt oxide (CoO) and nickel oxide (NiO) have been measured with the new system. These spectra are compared with EELS data obtained from a conventional microscope and the main spectral features are interpreted. Additionally, the use of monochromised TEMs is discussed in view of the natural line widths of K and L-2,L-3 edges. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.