Mechanisms responsible for chemical shifts of core-level binding energies and their relationship to chemical bonding

Abstract

Abstract A comprehensive review of different mechanisms which contribute to the chemical shifts of core-level binding energies, BEs, is made. A principle focus is on showing how the mechanisms can be used to relate the BE shifts to features of the chemical bonding and chemical interactions in the studied system. Several initial state mechanisms are identified; while some are well known, the importance of others has been only recognized fairly recently. A theoretical framework is presented which places the analysis and interpretation of these BE shifts on a firm foundation. A rigorous definition and distinction of initial and final state effects is presented. This definition is applied to show that initial state effects are often the dominant factors for the chemical BE shifts. It is also shown that, in many cases, theoretical approaches involving the use of constrained variations can permit a clear and definitive separation of the contributions of the different mechanisms. Several representative applications to the analysis and interpretation of core-level BE shifts are described which show how the theoretical methods of analysis can be used to identify the mechanisms important for the BE shifts. Often more than one mechanism makes an important contribution to the shifts and it is common that the contributions will be canceling. When all of the relevant mechanisms are taken into account in the analysis of the BE shifts, these shifts do provide valuable information about the chemical bonding and electronic structure of the materials being studied. The mechanisms presented and the theoretical frameworks described provide a unified view of BE chemical shifts.