Alloy formation of Co/Ni/Pt(1 1 1)

The initial growth and alloy formation of ultrathin Co films deposited on 1 ML Ni/Pt(1 1 1) were investigated by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). A sequence of samples of d_Co Co/1 ML Ni/Pt(1 1 1) (d_Co = 1, 2, and 3 ML) were prepared at room temperature, and then heated up to investigate the diffusion process. The Co and Ni atoms intermix at lower annealing temperature, and Co-Ni intermixing layer diffuses into the Pt substrate to form Ni-Co-Pt alloys at higher annealing temperature. The diffusion temperatures are Co coverage dependent. The evolution of UPS with annealing temperatures also shows the formation of surface alloys. Some interesting LEED patterns of 1 ML Co/1 ML Ni/Pt(1 1 1) show the formation of ordered alloys at different annealing temperature ranges. Further studies in the Curie temperature and concentration analysis, show that the ordered alloys corresponding to different LEED patterns are Ni_xCo_1−xPt and Ni_xCo_1−xPt₃. The relationship between the interface structure and magnetic properties was investigated.     

Initial growth of platinum on oxygen-covered Ni(1 1 0) surfaces

The initial growth of Pt on the Ni(1 1 0)-(3 × 1)-O and NiO(1 1 0) surfaces has been studied by coaxial impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy (CAICISS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Prior to Pt deposition, the atomic structure of the near-surface regions of the Ni(1 1 0)-(3 × 1)-O and NiO(1 1 0) structures were studied using CAICISS, finding changes to the interlayer spacings due to the adsorption of oxygen. Deposition of Pt on the Ni(1 1 0)-(3 × 1)-O surface led to a random substitutional alloy in the near-surface region at Pt coverages both below and in excess of 1 ML. In contrast, when the surface was treated with 1800 L of atomic oxygen in order to form a NiO(1 1 0) surface, a thin Pt layer was formed upon room temperature Pt deposition. XPS and LEED data are presented throughout to support the CAICISS observations.     

Surface chemistry of NO and NO2 on the Pt(1 1 0)-(1 × 2) surface: A comparative study

The surface chemistry of NO and NO₂ on clean and oxygen-precovered Pt(1 1 0)-(1 × 2) surfaces were investigated by means of high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). At room temperature, NO molecularly adsorbs on Pt(1 1 0), forming linear NO(a) and bridged NO(a). Coverage-dependent repulsive interactions within NO(a) drive the reversible transformation between linear and bridged NO(a). Some NO(a) decomposes upon heating, producing both N₂ and N₂O. For NO adsorption on the oxygen-precovered surface, repulsive interactions exist between precovered oxygen adatoms and NO(a), resulting in more NO(a) desorbing from the surface in the form of linear NO(a). Bridged NO(a) experiences stronger repulsive interactions with precovered oxygen than linear NO(a). The desorption activation energy of bridged NO(a) from oxygen-precovered Pt(1 1 0) is lower than that from clean Pt(1 1 0), but the desorption activation energy of linear NO(a) is not affected by the precovered oxygen. NO₂ decomposes on Pt(1 1 0)-(1 × 2) surface at room temperature. The resulted NO(a) (both linear NO(a) and bridged NO(a)) and O(a) repulsively interact each other. Comparing with NO/Pt(1 1 0), more NO(a) desorbs from NO₂/Pt(1 1 0) as linear NO(a), and both linear NO(a) and bridged NO(a) exhibit lower desorption activation energies. The reaction pathways of NO(a) on Pt(1 1 0), desorption or decomposition, are affected by their repulsive interactions with coexisting oxygen adatoms.     

Adsorption of ethene on Pt(1 1 1) and ordered PtxSn/Pt(1 1 1) surface alloys: A comparative HREELS and DFT investigation

The adsorption of ethene (C₂H₄) on Pt(1 1 1) and the Pt₃Sn/Pt(1 1 1) and Pt₂Sn/Pt(1 1 1) surface alloys has been investigated experimentally by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. The experimental results have been compared with density functional theory (DFT) calculations allowing us to perform a complete assignment of all vibration modes and loss features to the species present on the surfaces. On Pt(1 1 1) as well as on the Pt-Sn surface alloys an η² di-σ-bonded conformation of ethene has been found to be the most stable adsorbed form. In addition to this majority species a minor amount of π-bonded ethene has been identified, which is more abundant on the Pt₂Sn surface alloy than on the other surfaces. Additionally the HREELS spectra of ethene on Pt(1 1 1) and the Pt-Sn surface alloys differ only slightly in terms of the energetic positions of the loss peaks.     

Formation and hydrogenation of p(2 × 2)-N on Pt(1 1 1)

The formation of a well-ordered p(2 × 2) overlayer of atomic nitrogen on the Pt(1 1 1) surface and its reaction with hydrogen were characterized with reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The p(2 × 2)-N overlayer is formed by exposure of ammonia to a surface at 85 K that is covered with 0.44 monolayer (ML) of molecular oxygen and then heating to 400 K. The reaction between ammonia and oxygen produces water, which desorbs below 400 K. The only desorption product observed above 400 K is molecular nitrogen, which has a peak desorption temperature of 453 K. The absence of oxygen after the 400 K anneal is confirmed with AES. Although atomic nitrogen can also be produced on the surface through the reaction of ammonia with an atomic, rather than molecular, oxygen overlayer at a saturation coverage of 0.25 ML, the yield of surface nitrogen is significantly less, as indicated by the N₂ TPD peak area. Atomic nitrogen readily reacts with hydrogen to produce the NH species, which is characterized with RAIRS by an intense and narrow (FWHM ∼ 4 cm⁻¹) peak at 3322 cm⁻¹. The areas of the H₂ TPD peak associated with NH dissociation and the XPS N 1s peak associated with the NH species indicate that not all of the surface N atoms can be converted to NH by the methods used here.     

Infrared reflection absorption spectral study for CO adsorption on Pd/Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces

Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) was used to investigate carbon monoxide (CO) adsorption on 0.15 nm-thick-0.6 nm-thick Pd-deposited Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces: Pd_x/Pt(1 1 1) (where x is the Pd thickness in nanometers) fabricated using molecular beam epitaxial method at substrate temperatures of 343 K, 473 K, and 673 K. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) measurements for Pd_0.15-0.6 nm/Pt(1 1 1) surfaces fabricated at 343 K showed that Pd grows epitaxially on a clean Pt(1 1 1), having an almost identical lattice constant of Pt(1 1 1). The 1.0 L CO exposure to the clean Pt(1 1 1) at room temperature yielded linearly bonded and bridge-bonded CO-Pt bands at 2093 and 1855 cm⁻¹. The CO-Pt band intensities for the CO-exposed Pd_x/Pt(1 1 1) surfaces decreased with increasing Pd thickness. For Pd_0.3 nm/Pt(1 1 1) deposited at 343 K, the 1933 cm⁻¹ band caused by bridge-bonded CO-Pd enhanced the spectral intensity. The linear-bonded CO-Pt band (2090 cm⁻¹) almost disappeared and the bridge-bonded CO-Pd band dominated the spectra for Pd_0.6 nm/Pt(1 1 1). With increasing substrate temperature during the Pd depositions, the relative band intensities of the CO-Pt/CO-Pd increased. For the Pd_0.3 nm/Pt(1 1 1) deposited at 673 K, the linear-bonded CO-Pt and bridge-bonded CO-Pd bands are located respectively at 2071 and 1928 cm⁻¹. The temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) spectrum for the 673 K-deposited Pd_0.3 nm/Pt(1 1 1) showed that a desorption signal for the adsorbed CO on the Pt sites decreased in intensity and shifted ca. 20 K to a lower temperature than those for the clean Pt(1 1 1). We discuss the CO adsorption behavior on well-defined Pd-deposited Pt(1 1 1) bimetallic surfaces.     

Surface segregation of aluminum atoms on Cu-9 at.% Al(1 1 1) studied by Auger electron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction

Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) were applied to investigate the segregation of aluminum atoms on a Cu-9 at.% Al(1 1 1) surface. We observed that the Al concentration in the top layer ranged between about 9 and 36 at.% after the sample we used was annealed at different temperatures. The phenomenon of Al atoms segregating on the surfaces was explained well by considering the diffusion length of Al atoms in bulk Cu. LEED measurements showed that R30° structures grew as the concentration of Al atoms increased. The segregation phenomena on surfaces resulted in a stable two-dimensional Cu₆₇Al₃₃ alloy phase in the top layer.     

Probing the interactions of Pt, Rh and bimetallic Pt-Rh clusters with the TiO2(1 1 0) support

Pt, Rh, and Pt-Rh clusters on TiO₂(1 1 0) have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (sXPS), and low energy ion scattering (LEIS). The surface compositions of Pt-Rh clusters are Pt-rich (66-80% Pt) for room temperature deposition of both 2 ML of Pt on 2 ML of Rh (Rh + Pt) and 2 ML of Rh on 2 ML of Pt (Pt + Rh). Pt and Rh atoms readily diffuse within the clusters at room temperature, and although diffusion is slower at 240 K, intermixing of Pt and Rh still occurs. The binding energies of surface and bulk states for Rh(3d_5/2) and Pt(4f_7/2) can be distinguished in sXPS studies, and an analysis of these spectra indicates that the surface compositions of the Pt + Rh and Rh + Pt clusters are similar at room temperature but not identical. In addition to sintering, the pure Pt, pure Rh and Pt-Rh clusters become completely encapsulated by titania upon heating to 700 K. sXPS investigations show that annealing the clusters to 850 K induces reduction of titania support to Ti⁺² and Ti⁺³, with the extent of reduction being the greatest for Pt, the least for Rh and intermediate for Pt-Rh. We propose that TiO₂ is reduced at the metal-titania interface on top of the clusters, not at the base of the clusters. Furthermore, the extent of titania reduction is greater for metal clusters with weaker metal-oxygen bonds because oxygen atoms are less likely to migrate to the top of the clusters, and therefore the encapsulating titania is oxygen-deficient.     

Adsorption and reaction of bicyclic hydrocarbons at Pt(1 1 1) and Sn/Pt(1 1 1) surface alloys: trans-decahydronaphthalene (C10H18) and bicyclohexane (C12H22)

Adsorption and desorption of trans-decahydronaphthalene (C₁₀H₁₈) and bicyclohexane (C₁₂H₂₂) can be used to probe important aspects of non-specific dehydrogenation leading to surface carbon accumulation and establish better estimates of activation energies for C-H bond cleavage at Pt-Sn alloys. This chemistry was studied on Pt(1 1 1) and the (2 × 2)-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) and (√3 × √3)R30°-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) surface alloys by using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) mass spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). These hydrocarbons are reactive on Pt(1 1 1) surfaces and fully dehydrogenate at low coverages to produce H₂ and surface carbon during TPD. At monolayer coverage, 87% of adsorbed C₁₀H₁₈ and 75% C₁₂H₂₂ on Pt(1 1 1) desorb with activation energies of 70 and 75 kJ/mol, respectively. Decomposition of C₁₀H₁₈ is totally inhibited during TPD on these Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloys and decomposition of C₁₂H₂₂ is reduced to 10% of the monolayer coverage on the (2 × 2)-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloy and totally inhibited on the (√3 × √3)R30°-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloy. C₁₀H₁₈ and C₁₂H₂₂ are more weakly chemsorbed on these two alloys compared to Pt(1 1 1) and these molecules desorb in narrow peaks characteristic of each surface with activation energies of 65 and 73 kJ/mol on the (2 × 2) alloy and 60 and 70 kJ/mol on the (√3 × √3)R30°-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloy, respectively. Alloyed Sn has little influence on the monolayer saturation coverage of these two molecules, and this is decreased only slightly on these two Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloys. The use of these two probe molecules enables an improved estimate of the activation energy barriers E* to break aliphatic C-H bonds in alkanes on Sn/Pt alloys; E* = 65-73 kJ/mol on the (2 × 2)-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloy and E* ? 70 kJ/mol on the (√3 × √3)R30°-Sn/Pt(1 1 1) alloy.     

The adsorption of CCl4 on Ag(1 1 1): Carbene and CC bond formation

The adsorption of CCl₄ on Ag(1 1 1) has been investigated from 100 K to 300 K using absolute sticking probability measurement, temperature programmed desorption, Auger electron spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. At 100 K, CCl₄ adsorbs molecularly with a sticking probability of 1.0, forming a (3 × 3) adsorption structure. At 300 K the following overall reaction occurs,

2CCl_4(g)→4Cl_(chem)+C₂Cl_4(g),     

Growth of Co nanoparticles on a nanostructured θ-Al2O3 film on CoAl(1 0 0)

We have investigated the growth of Co nanoparticles on θ-Al₂O₃/CoAl(1 0 0) by means of Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Due to Volmer-Weber growth, Co forms particles with a mean diameter of approximately 2.5 nm and height of 0.8 nm. Even on the entirely covered oxide, there is no Ostwald ripening and Co particles stay structurally isolated. The nanoparticles exhibit a small size distribution and tend to form chains, as predetermined by the streak structure of the oxide template. For sufficient high coverages Co-core-CoO-shell nanoparticles may be evidenced, which is explained as a result of surfactant oxygen. The nanostructured particles may open the door to numerous applications, such as in catalysis and magnetoelectronic applications, where large areas of ordered nanodots are desired.     

The effect of Pt on Ni3Al surface oxidation at low-pressures

The fully-oxidized surface that forms on (1 1 1) oriented Ni₃Al single crystals, with and without Pt addition, at 300-900 K under oxygen pressures of ca. 10⁻⁷ Torr was studied using XPS, AES, and LEIS. Two main types of surfaces form, depending upon oxidation temperature. At low-temperature, the predominant oxide is NiO, capped by a thin layer of aluminum oxide, which we refer to generically as Al_xO_y. At high-temperature (i.e., 700-800 K), NiO is replaced by a thick layer of Al_xO_y. By comparing samples that contain 0, 10 and 20 at.% Pt in the bulk, we find that the effect of Pt is to: (1) reduce the maximum amount of both NiO and Al_xO_y; and (2) shift the establishment of the thick Al_xO_y layer to lower temperatures. Platinum also decreases the adsorption probability of oxygen on the clean surface.     

Hydrogen peroxide treatment on ZnO substrates to investigate the characteristics of Pt and Pt oxide Schottky contacts

We utilize hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) treatment on (0 0 0 1) ZnO substrates to investigate the characteristics of Pt and Pt oxide Schottky contacts (SCs). X-ray rocking curves show the mosaicity structure becomes larger after H₂O₂ treatment. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra show the yellow-orange emission peaking at ∼576-580 nm with respect to deep level of oxygen interstitials introduced by H₂O₂ treatment. The threshold formation of ZnO₂ resistive layer on H₂O₂-treated ZnO for 45 min is observed from grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction. The better electrical characteristic is performed by Pt oxide SC with the larger barrier height (1.09 eV) and the lower leakage current (9.52 × 10⁻¹¹ A/cm² at −2 V) than Pt SC on the H₂O₂-treated ZnO for 60 min. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) examinations indicate the promoted interface oxide bonding and Zn outdiffusion for Pt oxide contact, different from Pt contact. Based on current-voltage, capacitance-voltage, X-ray diffraction, PL spectra, XPS, and SIMS results, the possible mechanism for effective rectifying characteristic and enhanced Schottky behavior is given.     

In-situ study of the catalytic oxidation of CO on a Pt(1 1 0) surface using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

CO and O₂ co-adsorption and the catalytic oxidation of CO on a Pt(1 1 0) surface under various pressures of CO and O₂ (up to 250 mTorr) are studied using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) and mass spectrometry. There is no surface oxide formation on Pt under our reaction conditions. CO oxidation in this pressure (<500 mTorr), O₂ to CO ratio (<10), and temperature (150 °C) regime is consistent with the Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction mechanism. Our findings provide in-situ surface chemical composition data of the catalytic oxidation of CO on Pt(1 1 0) at total pressures below 1 Torr.     

Construction of an electron analyzer with a wide acceptance solid angle

We have developed a new electron energy analyzer with a large solid angle of 0.14π, which is comparable to that of cylindrical mirror analyzer. Typical energy resolution was ΔE/E₀ ∼ 0.016 for the aperture of 1 mm and central radius of 100 mm, and typical angular resolution was less than 0.5°.     

Epitaxial C60 thin films on Bi(0 0 0 1)

We have used the Bi(0 0 0 1)/Si(1 1 1) template to grow highly ordered C₆₀ epitaxial thin films and analyzed them using scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron microscopy. The in situ low-energy electron microscope investigations show that the initial nucleation of the C₆₀ islands on the surface takes place at surface defects, such as domain boundaries and multiple steps. The in-plane lattice parameters of this C₆₀ film turns out to be the same as that of the bulk fcc(1 1 1) C₆₀. The line-on-line epitaxial structure is realized in spite of a weak interaction between the C₆₀ molecules and Bi(0 0 0 1) surface, while scanning tunneling spectroscopy indicates that there is a negligible charge transfer between the molecules and the surface.     

The adsorption of NO on an oxygen pre-covered Pt(1 1 1) surface: in situ high-resolution XPS combined with molecular beam studies

Adsorption of NO on a Pt(1 1 1) surface pre-covered with a p(2 × 2) atomic oxygen layer has been studied in situ by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed XPS using third-generation synchrotron radiation at BESSY II, Berlin, combined with molecular beam techniques and ex situ by low energy electron diffraction and temperature-programmed desorption. O 1s XP spectra reveal that an ordered p(2 × 2)-O layer dramatically changes the adsorption behavior of NO as compared to the clean surface. The atomic oxygen occupies fcc hollow sites, and therefore blocks NO adsorption on these sites, which are energetically preferred on clean Pt(1 1 1). As a consequence, NO populates on-top sites at low coverage. At 110 K for higher coverages, NO can additionally adsorb on hcp hollow sites, thereby inducing a shift of the O 1s binding energy of atomic oxygen towards lower energies by about 0.25 eV. The bond strength of the hcp hollow NO species to the substrate is weakened by the presence of atomic oxygen. A sharp p(2 × 2) LEED pattern is observed for NO adsorption on the oxygen pre-covered surface, up to saturation coverage. The total saturation coverage of NO on Pt(1 1 1) pre-covered with varying amounts of oxygen (below 0.25 ML) decreases linearly with the coverage of oxygen. The initial sticking coefficient of NO is reduced from 0.96 on clean Pt(1 1 1) to 0.88 on a p(2 × 2) oxygen pre-covered surface.     

Carbon monoxide adsorption on Co deposited Pt(1 0 0)-hex: IRRAS and LEED investigations

Infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) was used to investigate carbon monoxide (CO) adsorption on Pt(1 0 0) surfaces deposited with Co layers with different thicknesses. Pt(1 0 0) surfaces cleaned in ultrahigh vacuum showed surface reconstruction, i.e., Pt(1 0 0)-hex: two absorption bands ascribable to adsorbed CO on the 1 × 1 surface and hex domains emerge at 2086 and 2074 cm⁻¹, respectively, after 1.0 L CO exposure. Deposition of a 0.3-nm-thick-Co layer on Pt(1 0 0)-hex at 333 K changes the low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) pattern from hex to p(1 × 1), indicating that the deposited Co lifts the reconstruction. The IRRAS spectrum for 1.0-L-CO-exposed Co_0.3 nm/Pt(1 0 0)-hex fabricated at 333 K yields a single absorption band at 2059 cm⁻¹. For Co_0.3 nm/Pt(1 0 0)-hex fabricated at 693 K, the LEED pattern shows a less-contrasted hex and the pattern remains nearly unchanged even after CO exposure of 11 L, although only 1.0 L CO exposure to Pt(1 0 0)-hex lifts the surface reconstruction. A Co_0.3 nm/Pt(1 0 0)-hex surface fabricated at 753 K exhibits an absorption band at 2077 cm⁻¹, which is considered to originate from CO adsorbed on the Pt-enriched surface alloy. Co_0.3 nm/Pt(1 0 0)-hex surfaces fabricated above 773 K show a clear hex-reconstructed LEED pattern, and the frequencies of the adsorbed CO bands are comparable to those of Pt(1 0 0)-hex, indicating that the deposited Co atoms are diffused near the surface region. The outermost surface of the 3.0-nm-thick-Co-deposited Pt(1 0 0)-hex is composed of Pt-Co alloy domains even at a deposition temperature of 873 K. Based on the LEED and IRRAS results, the outermost surface structures of Co_x/Pt(1 0 0)-hex are discussed.     

Hyperthermal scattering of Cs from Pt(1 1 1): the effect of image charge on the ion-surface energy transfer

We have studied the energy exchange between hyperthermal (5-100 eV) Cs⁺ projectiles and a Pt(1 1 1) surface by measuring the kinetic energy of the scattered ions. The scattering geometry was chosen to be in-plane with specular scattering angles, and the energy of the scattered ions was analyzed as functions of incidence energy and angle. For low incidence energy (<40 eV), the energy transfer to the Pt surface is substantially enhanced due to the attractive image charge force between Cs⁺ and the surface. The image charge effects are highlighted by the different energy transfer on Pt(1 1 1) and Si(1 1 1) surfaces. Analysis of the experimental results using two- and three-dimensional theoretical models revealed a well depth of 1 eV for the image charge potential. Hyperthermal Cs⁺ ions scatter from Pt(1 1 1) predominantly via double collisions with Pt atoms, though the scattering phenomena are insensitive to the impact site at the surface.     

Growth of Ce on Rh(1 1 1)

We have studied the growth of cerium films on Rh(1 1 1) using STM (scanning tunneling microscopy), LEED (low energy electron diffraction), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and AES (Auger electron spectroscopy). Measurements of the Ce films after room temperature deposition showed that Ce is initially forming nanoclusters in the low coverage regime. These clusters consist of 12 Ce atoms and have the shape of pinwheels. At a coverage of 0.25 ML (monolayer, ML) an adatom layer with a (2 × 2) superstructure is observed. Above 0.4 ML, Rh is diffusing through pinholes into the film, forming an unstructured mixed layer. Annealing at 250 °C leads to the formation of ordered Ce-Rh compounds based on the bulk compound CeRh₃. At a coverage of 0.1 ML, small ordered (2 × 2) surface alloy domains are observed. The exchanged Rh atoms form additional alloy islands situated on the pure Rh(1 1 1) surface, showing the same (2 × 2) superstructure as the surface alloy. At a coverage of 0.25 ML, the surface is completely covered by the surface alloy and alloy islands. The (2 × 2) structure is equivalent to a (1 1 1)-plane of CeRh₃, contracted by 6%. Annealing a 1 ML thick Ce layer leads to a flat surface consisting of different rotational domains of CeRh₃(1 0 0). The Rh needed for alloy formation comes from 50 Å deep pits in the substrate. Finally we show that LEIS (low energy ion scattering) is not suitable for the characterization of Ce and CeRh films due to strong effects of neutralization.