Observation of vibrational asymmetry in the high resolution monochromatized XPS of hydrocarbon polymers

Abstract High resolution C1s spectra are reported for polyethylene, polypropylene, hexatriacontane (n-C36H74) and polystyrene. Asymmetry is observed on the high binding energy side of the lineshape for the first three of these compounds, and is attributed to the excitation of CH stretching vibrations during core level photoionization. The effect only becomes apparent for experimental linewidths