High-resolution valence band XPS studies of thin film Au-Al alloys

The Maximum Entropy Method (MEM) has been used to deconvolute the valence-b and XPS spectra of thin film Au-Al alloys. The enhanced resolution allows f ine changes in the electronic structures of the thin film alloys to be dist inguished with the aid of the Au4f core-level spectra. This particular allo y series allows one to examine the 5d electronic interaction between gold a toms as aluminum is gradually added to the matrix. Aluminum is shown to hav e a much stronger quenching effect on such interactions than has been found previously for copper. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.