Final state effect for Au 4f line from gold-nano-particles grown on oxides and HOPG supports

The effect of a positive charge left to a small metal particle immediately after photoemission, so called the final state effect is studied for Au 4f binding energy (E_B) shifts. The size and shape of Au nano-particles were determined by high-resolution medium energy ion scattering combined with scanning electron microscopy of a field emission type. The shape of Au nano-particles is well approximated by a partial sphere with diameter d and height h. It is found that the E_B shift is well expressed as number of atoms per particle (n_A) and independent of support species. The E_B shift changes dramatically at a critical n_A value of ∼70 atoms, where metal-nonmetal transition takes place. In the nonmetal region, the E_B shift increases steeply almost exponentially with decreasing n_A and in contrast, gradually decreases with increasing n_A in the metallic region. The effect of the positive charge of an Au 4f vacancy created by photoemission is expressed by the relaxation time τ and the effective charge +αe when the photoelectron just leaves the Au particle surface (e: electron charge, α < 1).