On the chemical states of nitrogen on iron surfaces reacted with ammonia and sodium cyanide,studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The reaction products of iron reacted with ammonia gas and molten sodium cyanide are studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Ammonia gas dissociates on iron surfaces to form a nitride and a loosely bound NH₃-like species with N 1sB.E.'s at 397.2 and 399.8 eV, respectively. On iron specimens dipped into molten NaCN three species are found at 398.6, 397.8 and 397.2 eV. The 398.6-eV peak is ascribed to adsorbed ?CN, and the 397.8-eV peak to carbonitride formed by the reaction of the cyanide with iron. Decreasing binding energies are found for adsorbed ?CN ligand, carbonitride compound and nitride, which seem to correspond to an apparent order of stronger interaction of nitrogen with iron. An iron sample was scratched with a file and the surface species of nitrogen were observed below 400°C. The nitrogen atoms in the sample diffuse and concentrate on the surface, depending on the nitrogen content in the bulk. Desorption patterns of nitrogen from a heated iron surface are examined with a view to the determination of gaseous constituents in metal samples.