Oscillations in the compositional depth profile of Cu/Ni alloys: A study by UPS

The composition in the surface region of a (110) oriented single crystal of Cu/Ni alloy was studied by ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) in the energy range hv = 32–240 eV. The data indicate a surface enrichment of Cu and that the composition, as a function of depth below the surface, does not approach the bulk value in a monotonic manner but shows at least one oscillation. The depth sampled by the UPS experiment was varied by changing the photon energy and thus the escape length of the photoemitted electrons. Two surfaces of a single bulk crystal (bulk atomic composition 90% Ni and 10% Cu) were studied. One was the high temperature equilibrium surface (AES measurements yielded a surface composition of ~65% Cu and 35% Ni); the second surface was higher in Ni concentration (AES measurements gave ~65% Ni and 35% Cu) and was obtained by annealing at a lower temperature. Theories based on the quasi-chemical and regular solution models predict a surface enrichment of Cu for the alloy, but do not predict any oscillation in composition below the surface.