Resolving surface chemical states in XPS analysis of first row transition metals, oxides and hydroxides: Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni

Chemical state X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of first row transition metals and their oxides and hydroxides is challenging due to the complexity of their 2p spectra resulting from peak asymmetries, complex multiplet splitting, shake-up and plasmon loss structure, and uncertain, overlapping binding energies. Our previous paper [M.C. Biesinger et al., Appl. Surf. Sci. 257 (2010) 887-898.] in which we examined Sc, Ti, V, Cu and Zn species, has shown that all the values of the spectral fitting parameters for each specific species, i.e. binding energy (eV), full wide at half maximum (FWHM) value (eV) for each pass energy, spin-orbit splitting values and asymmetric peak shape fitting parameters, are not all normally provided in the literature and data bases, and are necessary for reproducible, quantitative chemical state analysis. A more consistent, practical and effective approach to curve fitting was developed based on a combination of (1) standard spectra from quality reference samples, (2) a survey of appropriate literature databases and/or a compilation of literature references and (3) specific literature references where fitting procedures are available. This paper extends this approach to the chemical states of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni metals, and various oxides and hydroxides where intense, complex multiplet splitting in many of the chemical states of these elements poses unique difficulties for chemical state analysis. The curve fitting procedures proposed use the same criteria as proposed previously but with the additional complexity of fitting of multiplet split spectra which has been done based on spectra of numerous reference materials and theoretical XPS modeling of these transition metal species. Binding energies, FWHM values, asymmetric peak shape fitting parameters, multiplet peak separation and peak area percentages are presented. The procedures developed can be utilized to remove uncertainties in the analysis of surface states in nano-particles, corrosion, catalysis and surface-engineered materials.     

Electron-induced KLL Auger electron spectroscopy of Fe,Cu and Ge

KLL Auger spectra excited by electrons with energies in the 30–35 keV range of Fe, Cu and Ge films were measured, using thin free-standing films. It was possible to obtain spectra with an energy resolution of about 1 eV. The observed spectra can not be described satisfactorily by just the multiplet splitting of the final state as calculated for an isolated atom. Additional features, due in part to intrinsic (shake satellites) and in part to extrinsic (energy loss of the escaping electron) processes formed a large fraction on the observed intensities. In particular a number of distinct satellite structures that are not predicted by the atomic Auger process are observed. For Fe and Cu the satellite peaks can be explained in terms of shake-up processes from the 3d_5/2–4d_5/2 states. Similar satellite structures observed in Ge are partly attributed to plasmon creation and partly to shake-up processes. It is demonstrated that both the thickness dependence of the observed intensity distributions and transmission electron energy loss measurements contain invaluable information for the interpretation of these spectra.     

Core-level Auger spectroscopy of the 4d metals

We report some of the results of extensive experimental and theoretical studies by our group of the high energy Auger spectra of the 4d metals and some of their alloys. We consider, separately, three aspects of these spectra: comparison of experiment with atomic theoretical calculations; the relationship between the Auger kinetic energies and the screening mechanisms in these metals; and the unique properties of satellites associated with these spectra, especially with the L_1,2,3M_4,5M_4,5 spectra. Comparison with atomic theory yields some discrepancies that should be taken into account in the formulation of the theories. Consideration of the Auger kinetic energies yields insight into screening mechanisms and suggests methods for extracting electronic structure changes in alloys from XPS and XAES shifts. Systematic studies of the satellites permit their identification as arising from shake-up processes without contributions from of Coster–Kronig processes, in contrast to studies of 3d metals, such as Cu. Synchrotron studies allow the observation of the transition from the adiabatic approximation regime to that of the sudden approximation.     

Auger and direct electron spectra in X-ray photoelectron studies of zinc,zinc oxide,gallium and gallium oxide

Auger and direct electron spectra from Zn, ZnO, Ga and Ga₂O₃ have been studied with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA). The chemical shift between zinc electron binding energies in Zn and ZnO is very small, whereas the zinc Auger electron signals are separated by 4.3 eV. In gallium, the oxide and metal signals are separated by 1.9 eV, but the Auger electron energy shift is three times as large. Thus the Auger signals are more sensitive to the chemical environment than the direct electron signals, which is the same relation as earlier observed for copper and copper oxides.     

Photoelectron spectra of chromium tetranitrosyl

The ultraviolet and X-ray-excited photoelectron spectra of Cr(NO)₄ are reported. The electron binding energies, shake-up spectra, relative peak intensities and the Auger peak kinetic energies have been measured, and are compared to the spectra from gas-phase NO, from NO adsorbed on a transition metal surface, and to SCF-MS calculations. The theoretical calculations are utilized to obtain ionization energies and charge distributions, and consequently to discuss the bonding in nitrosyl complexes.     

Interpretation of Auger satellites in Co,Ni, and Cu compounds

X-ray photoelectron spectra of the 2p levels of Co, Ni, and Cu compounds are examined concurrently with their L₃M_4,5M_4,5 Auger spectra. A correlation is established between the presence or absence of Auger satellites with the presence or absence of photoelectron shake-up satellites for Co and Ni compounds. The correlation is less clear for cupric compounds. We propose the mechanism of Auger shake-up as a plausible interpretation for the observed behavior of these Auger satellites.     

ESCA studies of Cu,Cu2O and CuO

Cu 2p, Cu 3d and O 1s electron spectra and Cu L₃M_4,5M_4,5 Auger electron spectra from Cu, Cu₂O and CuO have been studied at 25°C and at 400°C. The height of the Cu 2p satellite peaks from copper oxides was lowered when the temperature was raised. The intensity of the satellites also decreased if the sample stayed in vacuum for prolonged periods.Two commercial cuprous oxides were different with respect to the behaviour of the satellite peaks. One produced very weak satellites, while the other produced strong ones as previously reported in the literature for cuprous oxide. The colour of the oxides was slightly different, indicating that the stoichiometry was not the same.The change in satellite intensity is accompanied by changes in oxygen spectra, Cu L₃M_4,5 M_4,5 Auger spectra and valence band spectra.It is useful to study Auger electrons in addition to the direct electron spectrum, since Auger signals can be more sensitive to surface conditions than direct electron spectra.     

Layer-dependent shifts in ionization potential and auger energies for Kr/Cu (110)

Photoelectron spectra of the krypton 3d core-levels and MNN Auger spectra of krypton mono- and multilayers on Cu(110) have been recorded with synchrotron radiation. The Kr-3d line is found to shift to higher binding energies by 0.73 eV for first- and second-layer adsorption, respectively. This value is much larger than the work function decrease for Kr mono-layer adsorption, Δø = ?0.29eV. The shift in Auger line energies is found to be about three times larger than the 3d line shift. These observations can be readily explained in terms of image-charge screening of the hole states.     

Chemisorption of CO on Cu(100), Ag(110) and Au(110)

The adsorption of CO on Cu, Ag and Au is studied using core and valence photoemission, X-ray absorption and autoionization of core excited states. The purpose is to investigate the nature of the adsorption bond starting out from the well-established chemisorption system CO/Cu(100)-c(2 × 2), and from the results we suggest that CO forms chemisorbed phases also on Ag(110) and Au(110). The photoemission spectra show strong shake-up satellites both for the valence levels and the core levels. The separation to the satellite appearing closest to the main line is observed to follow the position of the substrate d-band relative to the Fermi level. The CO adsorption strength for the noble metals is deduced to decrease in the order Cu-Au-Ag. This is based on the widths of the XA resonances, which are related to the adsorbate-substrate interaction strength of the core excited states, and the relative shake-up intensities, which are expected to increase with a decreasing adsorption strength in the ground state. The same trends regarding the shake-up intensities are observed both for the valence and core levels.     

Solid-state shifts in the L3M4,5M4,5 Auger spectra of the elements Cu TO Se

The kinetic-energy shifts between atomic and solid-state L₃M_4,5M_4,5 Auger electron spectra of Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, and Se are determined with the aid of semiempirically calculated atomic and experimental solid-state Auger energies. The shift values are calculated by applying the thermochemical model to the Auger process. Good agreement is found between the calculated and experimental values.     

A photoelectron study of palladium,nickel, and copper clusters on carbon surfaces

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra show that even at the threshold of detectability, Pd, Ni, and Cu atoms deposited on the basal plane of cleaved graphite nucleate into clusters sufficiently large to exhibit valence band and core binding energies characteristics of bulk metals. However at very low coverage of these metals on amorphous carbon, the spectra show that the valence d-bands have decreased widths and larger binding energies than the bulk metals. Core binding energies show a similar increase at very low coverage. These effects occur because at low coverage on amorphous carbon these metals are present as isolated adatoms.     

Copper hexadecafluoro phthalocyanine and naphthalocyanine: The role of shake up excitations in the interpretation and electronic distinction of high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements

We present the first high-resolution X-ray photoelectron core level spectra of bulk copper hexadecafluoro phthalocyanine (CuFPC) and naphthalocyanine (H₂NPC). The measurements have been performed in UHV onto samples grown in situ. A shake-up satellite assigned to a monopole on-site HOMO–LUMO molecular excitation has been evidenced in the F, C and N core-level spectra measured. In the case of the CuFPC, the shake-up is characteristic of the F atoms, of the four N atoms that are Cu bonded, and of the F- and N-bonded C atoms. The shake-up to main peak relative binding energy has been estimated to be 1.6 eV. In the case of H₂NPC, the outer benzenic C atoms do not show a satellite excitation, which instead is characteristic of the C and N atoms belonging to the inner porphyrin-like central ring of the molecule. The shake-up is less than 1 eV at higher binding energies from the main core line. The localisation of the HOMO level in the central structure of the molecule is confirmed by Hartree–Fock all-electron molecular orbital calculations performed on the metal-free phthalocyanine (H₂PC) and hexadecafluoro phthalocyanine (H₂FPC) molecules.     

Sputtering of Cu and Zn atoms from elemental and alloy targets

The energy distributions of Cu and Zn atoms sputtered from elements and Cu_xZn_1-x alloys (x=0.80, 0.24) with a 6 keV Ar⁺ beam have been measured. It was found that the collision-cascade theory properly described the flux of sputtered atoms. From the spectra the binding energies of Cu and Zn atoms in the elemental and alloy surfaces were determined. The collision-cascade theory and the experimentally adjusted values of the binding energies allowed for calculation of the total and partial sputtering yields, and the equilibrium surface composition of the ion bombarded alloys. This work was carried out as a part of Research Project M.R. I/5.     

Relaxation energies of oxygen auger transitions in some oxides

Relaxation effects are of major importance in the so-called chemical shifts observed in XPS and AES. These chemical shifts mainly arise from changes in the electrostatic environment due to the field of the neighbouring atoms in the initial neutral state and from electron redistribution in the surrounding electron cloud in order to screen the final state holes of the excited atom. Using a three-step model for the Auger process, we succeeded in deriving cross-relaxation energies from the KLL spectrum of oxygen in oxides, provided a careful calibration of experimental binding and Auger kinetic energies is achieved. It has been shown that the extra-atomic relaxation energy increases with ionicity for oxides of non-transition metals. In the case of transition metal oxides, it has been found that the cross-relaxation energies are larger than for the other oxides; it is believed that this is due to a more efficient screening effect of the d-electrons of the neighbouring metal atoms.     

Nanosecond laser ablation and deposition of silver,copper, zinc and tin

Nanosecond pulsed laser deposition of different metals (Ag, Cu, Sn, Zn) has been studied in high vacuum at a laser wavelength of 355 nm and pulse length of 6 ns. The deposition rate is roughly similar for Sn, Cu and Ag, which have comparable cohesive energies, and much higher for the deposition of Zn which has a low cohesive energy. The deposition rate for all metals is strongly correlated with the total ablation yield, i.e., the total mass ablated per pulse, reported in the literature except for Sn, for which the deposition rate is low, but the total ablation yield is high. This may be explained by the continuous erosion by nanoparticles during deposition of the Sn films which appear to have a much rougher surface than those of the other metals studied in the present work.     

KLL Auger resonant Raman transition in metallic Cu and Ni

High energy resolution KL₂₃L₂₃ Auger spectra of polycrystalline Cu and Ni were measured using photon energies up to about 50 eV above the K-absorption edge and down to 5 eV (Cu KLL) and 4 eV (Ni KLL) below threshold. The spectra show strong satellite structures varying considerably as a function of the photon energy. In the sub-threshold region the linear dispersion of the diagram line energy positions and a distortion of the line shape as a function of photon energy, attributable to the Auger resonant Raman process, is clearly observed, indicating the one-step nature of the Auger emission. These changes in the resonant spectra are interpreted using a simple model based on resonant scattering theory in combination with partial density of states obtained from cluster molecular orbital (DV-Xα) calculations.     

ESCA studies of some copper and silver selenides

Photoelectron and Auger spectra have been obtained for the copper and silver selenides CuSe, Cu ₂Se, Ag ₂Se, and AgCuSe as well as from CuS, Ag ₂O, Ag ₂S, Cu, and Ag. Binding-energy values, chemical shifts, and peak-shapes are reported for the Cu 3 d, Ag 4 d and Se 3 p electrons. Absence of multiplet splitting and shake-up structure is discussed in relation to the magnetic properties. It is shown that chemical shifts are much better revealed in the Auger spectra (Cu L₃M_4,5M_{4, 5} and Ag M₅N_{4, 5}N_{4, 5}) than in the direct photoelectron ones. In addition the use of the Auger parameter to characterize the series under study is emphasized. Finally the valence-band spectra have been examined and the electronic structures are interpreted.     

A study by XPS and XRS of the participation in chemical bonding of the 3d electrons of copper,zinc and gallium

The participation of 3d electrons in chemical bonds and their part in the formation of valence bands was studied by X-ray photoelectron- and X-ray-spectroscopy for Cu, Zn and Ga phosphides, sulphides and oxides. Incomplete screening of (n + 1)s,p electrons through the nd shell leads to non-systematic changes of orbital energies and radii of the valence electrons in the first, second and third Group elements. It is reflected in the electronic structure of the respective compounds. A qualitative interpretation of XPS and XRS data for Cu, Zn, Ga phosphides is given. Possible reasons for phosphorus s band splitting for zinc and copper phosphides are considered. The interaction of 3d metal states and 3s, p third Period element states considerably affects the valence band of compounds, and this interaction should be taken into account when considering electronic structures of Cu, Zn and Ga compounds.     

Spectroscopic study of plasmons in ion-irradiated single-walled carbon nanotubes

The electronic structure of single-walled carbon nanotubes was experimentally investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy. A shake-up satellite structure observed near the C 1s core-level lines in the x-ray photoelectron spectra at high binding energies in the range 284–330 eV due to excitation of π and π + σ plasmons was studied. The effect of irradiation by 1-keV argon ions on the shape of the spectra was analyzed. The shape of the C 1s satellite spectra was found to be sensitive to Ar⁺ irradiation in the electron energy loss range 10–40 eV corresponding to excitation of π + σ plasmons. Auger spectroscopy revealed the presence of argon on the surface of ion-irradiated samples. The argon content increased to ～4 at. % with increasing irradiation dose. An analysis of the results obtained and their comparison with the data available in the literature led to a qualitative conclusion that the bond angles of the carbon atoms making up the walls of single-walled carbon nanotubes are distorted at sites exposed to Ar⁺ irradiation.     

Correlation effects in Auger spectra of Ni and Cu nanoclusters

Results of experimental research of exciton-like two-hole states in nanoclusters of narrow-band metals (Ni, Cu) on surface of high-oriented pyrolitic graphite by X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy are presented. It was found that the evolution of the electronic structure in Ni nanoclusters with the decreasing of their sizes can lead to appearance of long-living two-hole states in the valence band. One-particle and two-particle density of states are analyzed, and the Auger-electron spectra confirming the presence of the bound and localized states are obtained.