This article is cited in 7 papers

Surface physics, thin films

Transformation of auger electron spectra of ytterbium nanofilms under the action of adsorbed carbon monoxide and oxygen molecules

M. V. Kuzmin, M. A. Mitsev

Ioffe Institute, St. Petersburg

Abstract: The transformation of the Auger electron spectra of ytterbium nanofilms as a result of chemisorption of CO and O$_2$ molecules on their surface has been studied. It has been shown that the adsorption of these molecules is accompanied by a radical transformation of the electronic structure of nanofilms, during which the $5d$ level of ytterbium drops below the Fermi level. As a consequence, one electron can transfer from the $4f$ level to the $5d$ level. In turn, this provides the conditions for a giant resonance $4d\to 4f$ and a subsequent Coster–Kronig supertransition $4d^94f^{14}$ $\to$ $4d^{10}4f^{12}$ + Auger electron, which is accompanied by emission of one $4f$ electron to vacuum. The results obtained have demonstrated that molecules chemisorbed on the surface of nanofilms can cause qualitative changes in the properties of the surface and in the bulk of these films. It is obvious that this offers a means for designing nanoobjects with controlled properties.

Received: 13.07.2010

 English version: Physics of the Solid State, 2011, 53:3, 612–615

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