Auger parameters of ternary Pd–Ni–P amorphous alloys

Abstract

A series of bulk ternary amorphous alloys of Pd100−3 x Ni2 x P x were prepared and their amorphicity checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron scattering. Auger parameters of these alloys have been derived from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray excited Auger electron spectra (AES). Experiments of XPS and AES on each elemental metal and Ni2P were also performed for comparison. The results show a clear compositional dependence for the 3d binding energies and the MNN Auger energies of Pd on alloying, while Ni 2p core levels and the Ni LMM Auger lines show a weaker variation. Analysis of the data using “excited atom” models indicates electron transfer from Pd, with P carrying negative charge, but the differences in behaviour of the two metallic species suggests that covalent bonding changes may be significant.