XPS and AES Study of Oxygen Interaction on the Surface of the ZrNi Intermetallic Compound

Abstract

ZrNi intermetallic compound is used in several application fields due to its very favorable characteristics for the storage of hydrogen. The hydrogen reactions are important, it is vital to examine the evolution of physico-chemical properties at the surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is used to follow the evolution of electronic properties of ZrNi versus the ion sputtering in ultra high vacuum in the range 300-600°C. Morever, the evolution of species concentrations at the surface of ZrNi in the range 100-700°C is followed by means of Auger electron spectroscopy. The present results show that temperature and ion sputtering favor significant changes in surface properties of ZrNi. In situ annealing of ZrNi favors the oxygen decontamination associated with segregation of zirconium metal on the surface. The values of binding energies deduced from the reconstruction of XPS spectra, allowed the identification of species present at the surface. The results indicate that nickel is not contaminated and all the obtained sub-oxides are related to bonding states of oxygen with zirconium (Zr2O, ZrO, ZrO2 and Zr2O3). The ion sputtering of the surface of ZrNi causes preferential sputtering phenomenon. The later results from the removal of surface layers and from the appearance of zirconium oxide layers initially present on the surface. The results obtained by AES show the segregation of impurities (oxygen and carbon) and of zirconium on the surface of ZrNi. AES observations of Zr segregation start to be important above 300°C and this is in agreement with XPS analysis showing a Zr enrichment of the surface of ZrNi.