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Some Issues in Quantitative X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Auger-Electron Spectroscopy

Published

Author(s)

Cedric J. Powell, Joseph M. Conny, Aleksander Jablonski

Abstract

We give an overview of two issues that are important in quantitative X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger-electron spectroscopy (AES). First, we review the use of XPS standard test data (STD) that consists mainly of synthesized doublets. The STD was designed to test the reliability of peak energies and peak intensities obtained from fits to measured spectra containing overlapping components (i.e., that are often associated with different chemical states). The biases and random errors in peak positions can each be 0.1 eV or more when the doublet peak separation is less than 0.5 eV. In such cases, the median biases in relative peak intensities for the doublet components could be up to a factor of four, while the random errors could be up to factor of two. Second, we discuss the effects of elastic-electron scattering in measurements of overlayer-film thickness by AES or XPS. In such measurements, the effective attenuation length (EAL) should be used instead of the inelastic mean free path (IMFP). As an example, we present calculations of practical EALS for thin films of silicon dioxide on silicon for common XPS measurement conditions. For Mg and Al Ka x rays and photoelectron emission angles less than about 60 degrees with respect to the surface normal, the average practical EALs are between 6.5% and 9.4% less than the corresponding IMFPs; the actual difference depends on the x-ray source, the silicon dioxide thickness, and the XPS configuration. For larger emission angles, the practical EALs can vary appreciably with oxide thickness and emission angle, and practical EALs should be determined for the specific measurement conditions. If XPS is performed with smaller x-ray energies (i.e., with synchrotron radiation), the practical EALs can be up to about 30% less than the IMFP and can differ for emission angles of zero and fifty-five degrees.
Proceedings Title
State-of-the-Art Application of Surface and Interface Analysis Methods to Environmental Material Interactions, International Symposium | | Advances in Electron Spectroscopy | Electrochemical Society
Volume
2001
Issue
No. 5
Conference Dates
March 1, 2001
Conference Title
Proceedings of the Electrochemical Society

Keywords

Auger-electron spectroscopy, film thickness, silicon dioxide, standard test data, surface analysis, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Citation

Powell, C. , Conny, J. and Jablonski, A. (2001), Some Issues in Quantitative X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Auger-Electron Spectroscopy, State-of-the-Art Application of Surface and Interface Analysis Methods to Environmental Material Interactions, International Symposium | | Advances in Electron Spectroscopy | Electrochemical Society (Accessed October 3, 2024)

Issues

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Created March 1, 2001, Updated February 17, 2017