X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Isolated Nanoparticles.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is a very efficient and still progressing surface analysis technique. However, when applied to nano-objects, this technique faces drawbacks due to interactions with the substrate and sample charging effects. We present a new experimental approach to XPS based on coupling soft X-ray synchrotron radiation with an in-vacuum beam of free nanoparticles, focused by an aerodynamic lens system. The structure of the Si/SiO2 interface was probed without any substrate interaction or charging effects for silicon nanocrystals previously oxidized in ambient air. Complete characterization of the surface was obtained. The Si 2p core level spectrum reveals a nonabrupt interface.
†CEA/IRAMIS/Laboratoire Francis Perrin, URA 2453, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Olivier
O
Sublemontier
‡Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Christophe
C
Nicolas
§Institut Lavoisier de Versailles, Université Versailles-St Quentin, UMR CNRS 8180, 78035 Versailles, France.
Damien
D
Aureau
‡Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Minna
M
Patanen
†CEA/IRAMIS/Laboratoire Francis Perrin, URA 2453, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Harold
H
Kintz
‡Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Xiaojing
X
Liu
†CEA/IRAMIS/Laboratoire Francis Perrin, URA 2453, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Marc-André
MA
Gaveau
∥Institut de Physique de Rennes, Université Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France.
Jean-Luc
JL
Le Garrec
‡Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Emmanuel
E
Robert
†CEA/IRAMIS/Laboratoire Francis Perrin, URA 2453, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.|‡Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Flory-Anne
FA
Barreda
§Institut Lavoisier de Versailles, Université Versailles-St Quentin, UMR CNRS 8180, 78035 Versailles, France.
Arnaud
A
Etcheberry
†CEA/IRAMIS/Laboratoire Francis Perrin, URA 2453, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Cécile
C
Reynaud
∥Institut de Physique de Rennes, Université Rennes 1, 35042 Rennes, France.
James B
JB
Mitchell
‡Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France.
Catalin
C
Miron
Isolated Nanoparticles; Nanocharacterization; Si/SiO2 interface; Silicon Nanocrystals; Synchrotron Radiation; X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy