A photoelectron spectroscopy study of Au thin films on ZrO2 (100)

The formation and electronic properties of Au deposits on yttria-stabilized ZrO2, (100) were studied by X-ray and ultra-violet photoelectron spectrosc opy (XPS, UPS) from submonolayer coverages up to a full; conducting thin fi lm across the substrate at room temperature and at 680 K. The results show that at both temperatures Au exhibits a 3D particle growth, which is more p ronounced at 680 K. The substrate temperature affects the particle density and average coordination number of the gold atoms, however, the interaction between gold and the substrate is very weak at both temperatures. Annealin g up to 780 K of Au films deposited at 300 K, results only in particle coal escence and does not affect the chemical state of either Au or zirconia. (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.