The bonding and electronic structure of TiN thin films grown by sputtering
have been characterized by means of resonant photoemission spectroscopy usi
ng synchrotron radiation. Specifically we found a complex resonance profile
that exhibits a maximum at 45 eV followed by a second structure at 50 eV.
The intensity enhancement observed at 45 and 50 eV is consistent with the r
esonant photoemission of the Ti 3d states involved in the valence band of T
iN and the multiplet configuration of the [Ti 3p(5)3d(2)]* excited states.
The autoionizing character of the [Ti 3p(5)3d(2)]* states could also be con
firmed by observation of the corresponding autoionization emission. The res
onance is used to determine the Ti 3d contribution to the valence band. The
results are in good agreement with calculated Ti 3d partial density of sta
tes.