Synthesis and oxidation of CeN film: An in situ investigation by electron spectroscopies

Abstract

Nearly stoichiometric CeN film is synthesized on a Re(0001) substrate in an ultrahigh vacuum system involving highly active N atoms in the growth process, generated by thermal decomposition of NH 3 by use of a hot tungsten filament. The electronic structure of the CeN film as prepared is equivalent to that of a single crystal observed by in situ Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). AES and XPS investigations show that CeN film is directly oxidized to CeO 2 after exposure to O 2 at room temperature. However, CeN changes into Ce 2O 3 after annealing in ∼10 -6 mbar of O 2 atmosphere at elevated temperature. © 2005 American Chemical Society.