Zn_xNi_1-xO Mixed-Metal Oxides by XPS and Auger

Zn_xNi_1-xO samples with a compositional range 0 < × ≤ 0.3 were synthesized via thermal dissolution in air and their surface characterized with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis shows the surface composition to be comparable to the bulk composition. These systems are interesting as they place zinc in an octahedral environment which is unusual for zinc normally preferring a tetrahedral environment. Auger parameter analysis further illustrates this unusual environment yielding a zinc Auger parameter equal to ∼2011 eV, more than 1 eV greater than found for zinc oxide in the wurtzite form, also in the +2 oxidation state. This submission contains the core level and survey spectra for the homogeneous solid solutions, Zn_0.05Ni_0.95O, Zn_0.1Ni_0.9O, Zn_0.2Ni_0.8O, Zn_0.3Ni_0.7O and for pure NiO and ZnO. All samples have the rocksalt crystal structure except ZnO which has the wurtzite crystal structure.