Influence of the Ce–F interaction on cerium photoelectron spectra in CeOXFY layers

Abstract

Fluorine atoms have been reported as an impurity in cerium oxide; however, their influence on the electronic structure and chemical properties is not well understood yet. We show the changes in Ce 3d photoelectron spectra features induced by fluorine. We introduce a fitting procedure which allows to evaluate the concentration of fluorine in the cerium oxide layer. A correlation between the fluorine concentration and the characteristic Ce–F interaction doublets added to Ce 3d spectra fits is presented in this Letter. We studied also the interaction of the prepared layers with small doses of CO and O2 gases at elevated temperatures.