Spin state and satellite structures of ε-Fe2O3 as determined by resonant photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract

We use resonant photoelectron spectroscopy at the Fe2p and the O1s absorption edges to report on spectroscopic investigation of Fe-oxides nanoparticles. We discuss the spectroscopic details like multiple Auger decays, satellite emission in the X-ray absorption process and the core level data. We explain these data by a novel mechanism in which the resonant excitation between Fe3d and Fe4s states are involved. This mechanism is observed when the photo-excited electron becomes polarized by the electron–hole pairs existing in the conduction and valence bands.