CHARACTERIZATION OF QUATERNARY METAL-OXIDE FILMS BY SYNCHROTRON X-RAY-FLUORESCENCE MICROPROBE

A synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe has been used to study the composition and microstructure of pulsed-laser ablation-deposited fil ms of calcium-nickel-potassium oxides that have applications in hetero geneous catalysis. The films, whose individual metal oxide components have widely varying boiling points and thus prevent a solid-phase synt hesis with the use of standard thermal techniques, represent a new qua ternary metal oxide phase containing the three elements. Experimental conditions for preparing the films are given. The X-ray fluorescence m icroprobe data are discussed with respect to both the distribution of the three metals in the films at the micrometer lateral spatial resolu tion level and the presence of trace amounts of metals that were intro duced into the films as contaminants in targets made of the parent thr ee-metal oxide.