WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development
Print ISSN: 1790-5079, E-ISSN: 2224-3496
Volume 22, 2026
Surface Electronic Properties of Baltic Coastal Sands of Latvia
Authors: , , , , , , , ,
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Abstract: Quartz sands are widely present in natural and engineered systems, yet their surface electronic properties remain poorly constrained in natural coastal environments. In this study, quartz-rich sands from four sectors of the Latvian Baltic Sea coast were investigated using photoelectron emission spectroscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy to assess electron work function, surface potential, and near-edge electronic states. All samples exhibit a common quartz-dominated electronic structure; however, measurable differences arise from variations in defect-state density and surface potential organization. Sands from Salacgriva show a lower and more uniform work function and surface potential, whereas sands from Riga, Ventspils, and Liepaja display progressively greater electronic heterogeneity. These results demonstrate that coastal environmental conditions can induce systematic variations in the surface electronic properties of natural sands, with implications for electron–ion exchange processes and filtration-related applications.
Keywords:
Quartz sand, Surface electronic properties, Electron work function, Surface potential, Electronion exchange, Coastal sediment
Pages: 685-693
DOI: 10.37394/232015.2026.22.61