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Title: An x-ray photoemission spectroscopy investigation of thermal activation induced changes in surface composition and chemical bonds of two gettering alloys: Zr sub 2 Fe versus Zr sub 57 V sub 36 Fe sub 7

Journal Article · · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.577518· OSTI ID:6186319
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Istituto di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy (IT)
  2. SAES Getters S.p.A., Via Gallarate 215, 20151 Milano, Italy (IT)

We report comparative XPS ({ital h}{nu}=1253.6 eV) core level (Zr 3{ital d}; C 1{ital s}; O 1{ital s}; Fe 2{ital p}; V 2{ital p}) results from two relevant gettering alloys: Zr{sub 2}Fe and Zr{sub 57}V{sub 36}Fe{sub 7}. The samples were studied as-received (after in-air fracturing of bulk ingots) and after different annealing treatments (up to 700 {degree}C) performed in ultrahigh vacuum. With increasing temperature both alloys show a progressive dissolution of Zr oxides, an increase in the metallic character of the surface, the gradual loss of C based adsorbates, and a progressive increase in the surface Zr content and at the expense of the C concentration. At temperatures in the range 300--550 {degree}C a fraction of the C atoms form metallic carbides. OH-based groups are depleted from the surface at low temperatures (200 {degree}C), resulting in a sizable decrease of the near surface O content, while a nearly constant O concentration is found at intermediate and high temperatures. Only minor changes are observed for the near surface concentrations of Fe in Zr{sub 2}Fe and Fe and V in Zr{sub 57}V{sub 36}Fe{sub 7} as a function of temperature. The two alloys show strong differences in the activation kinetics of these changes, with surface metallization being initiated at lower temperatures and proceeding faster in Zr{sub 57}V{sub 36}Fe{sub 7}. Metallic carbides are found to almost completely dissolve in Zr{sub 57}V{sub 36}Fe{sub 7} at 600--700 {degree}C, while they are retained even at high temperatures in Zr{sub 2}Fe. The kinetic differences determined via XPS are consistent with the differences in gettering behavior of Zr{sub 2}Fe and Zr{sub 57}V{sub 36}Fe{sub 7}.

OSTI ID:
6186319
Journal Information:
Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology, A (Vacuum, Surfaces and Films); (USA), Vol. 9:2; ISSN 0734-2101
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English