RESIDUAL CARBON EVOLUTION IN BATIO3 CERAMICS STUDIED BY XPS AFTER IONETCHING

The surface of BaTiO3 ceramics and a freshly fractured ceramic surface were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Ti-2p, Ba-3d, O-1s and C-1s photopeaks were analysed before and after Ar+ ion sputt er etching. Then the evolution of the Ba-3d and C-1s spectra after a l ong bombardment at liquid nitrogen temperature was recorded as a funct ion of rime and during reheating to room temperature. The intrinsic re sidual carbon of the material was found to occur in the form of C-O gr oups and low energy C carbon at binding energies of 287 and 282 eV, r espectively. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited.