Electron loss spectroscopy for vibrational analysis is an established technique best suited for adsorbates on polished metallic surfaces. A departure from the standard instrumentation will allow vibrational measurements on practical surfaces such as rough metallic oxides. The technique derives increased sensitivity and vibrational resolution from using low energy electrons in a way which maximizes the interaction cross section and the collection efficiency for loss electrons. Estimation of the sensitivity increase is difficult because the cross sections at low energy are not well known, however, at least an order of magnitude is expected from the increased collection efficiency. The technique is ideally suited for time resolved vibrational analysis on practical surfaces which cannot at present be done.
