Inequivalent XPS binding energies in symmetrical delocalized mixed-valence complexes

It has previously been assumed that an ESCA measurement on a mixed-valence-e.g., M(II)-M(III) - compound which yields two peaks for an inner-shell M ionization at energies close to those measured for separate M(II) and M(III) ions provides direct evidence that the complex has an unsymmetrical (trapped-valence) ground state rather than one in which the electrons are symmetrically delocalized. This assumption is incorrect. A complex which has a symmetrical ground state will have two accessible unsymmetrical photoionized states owing to electron relaxation in the strong field of the core hole. For a range of values of binding energy differences and electron coupling parameters, the photoionized states will be very nearly localized and the peak separation for a complex with delocalized ground state will be close to that for isolated M(II) and M(III) ions. The appearance of two M binding energies is thus not in itself evidence for electronic ground-state asymmetry in a mixed-valence compound. A model is proposed from which quantitative predictions are made.