Electronic excitations in phosphorus-containing molecules. I. Inner shell electron energy loss spectra of PH3, P(CH3)3, PF3 and PCL3

Electron energy loss Spectroscopy has been used to obtain the inner shell electronic excitation spectra of PH₃, PF₃, PCl₃ and P(CH₃)₃ in the phosphorus L-shell (P 2p, 2s) region as well as the respective ligand K -shells (F 1s, C 1s) and L-shell (Cl 2p and 2s) regions. The spectra were obtained under small momentum transfer conditions so that dipole-allowed transitions dominate. An impact energy of 2.5 ke V was used and inelastically scattered electrons were detected at a typical scattering angle of about 1°. A dipoleforbidden transition of unusual character is observed at 135.11 eV in the P 2p spectrum of PCl₃. Although optically forbidden, as indicated by its absence in a soft X-ray absorption spectrum, the intensity of this transition rises very rapidly with increase in momentum transfer.