Analysis of Thin Films by Time-of-Flight Low Energy Ion Scattering

In the paper the design and application of a time-of-flight low energy ion scattering instrument built into an UHV complex deposition and analytical apparatus is described. A special attention is aimed at demonstrating the ability of time-of-flight low energy ion scattering to analyse near-to-surface layers of thin films prepared both ex situ and in situ. It is shown that the broadening of peaks in time-of-flight low energy ion scattering spectra can be attributed to multiple scattering and inelastic losses of ions in deeper layers. As a result of that, the peak width of ultrathin films depends on their thickness.