Auger parameters of ternary Pd–Ni–P amorphous alloys

Abstract

A series of bulk ternary amorphous alloys of Pd_{100−3 x} Ni_{2 x} P _x were prepared and their amorphicity checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron scattering. Auger parameters of these alloys have been derived from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray excited Auger electron spectra (AES). Experiments of XPS and AES on each elemental metal and Ni₂P were also performed for comparison. The results show a clear compositional dependence for the 3d binding energies and the MNN Auger energies of Pd on alloying, while Ni 2p core levels and the Ni LMM Auger lines show a weaker variation. Analysis of the data using “excited atom” models indicates electron transfer from Pd, with P carrying negative charge, but the differences in behaviour of the two metallic species suggests that covalent bonding changes may be significant.

Acknowledgements

The EPSRC is acknowledged for its financial support (Grant No. GR/N66582). We are also indebted to Dr. S.H. Kilcoyne for carrying out the neutron scattering characterization and J.F. Watts for providing the milling facility. Qi Li also gives his thanks to the Chinese National Science Foundation for its support to the project No.10174032.