Introduction to the Surface Spectra of Oxides

Abstract

Due to their technological importance and an increasing scientific interest, a set of data from oxide surfaces has been collected for publication in two special issues of Surface Science Spectra. This Introduction to these two special issues summarizes the data to be presented and provides short overviews of trends in both the physics and chemistry of metal-oxide surfaces and of some important aspects of the techniques used to examine these surfaces. The surface spectroscopies discussed in relation to oxides include: valence band photoemission (ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron based), core level photoemission (x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), (reflection) electron energy loss spectroscopy (R)EELS, high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), scanning probe methods, and ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). Brief sections also discuss the nature of stoichiometric oxide surfaces, the physics and chemistry of defects on these surfaces, and adsorption on metal-oxide surfaces.