title: Au 4f spin-orbit coupling effects in supported gold nanoparticles.
abstract: Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy we examine the Au 4f spin-orbit components in Au 4f spectra of nanosized Au particles on a TiO2 support. In general, the peak ratios of the Au 4f7/2 and 4f5/2 excitations are found to deviate from the statistical ratio of 4 : 3 and their linewidths (FWHM) are not equal. We reveal that both the FWHM and the Au 4f7/2-to-4f5/2 peak ratios increase appreciably as the Au atomic concentration on the surface of the TiO2 support and the size of Au nanoparticles decrease. On the contrary, the Au 4f spin-orbit splitting remains essentially unchanged. Our findings are discussed in terms of alterations in the electronic band structure.
authors.affiliation: Chimie-Physique des Matériaux, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium and G.V. Kurdyumov Institute for Metal Physics NASU, Akad. Vernadsky Blvd. 36, 03680 Kiev, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Sergey P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chenakin
authors.affiliation: Chimie-Physique des Matériaux, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgium and Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Washington State University, 155A Wegner Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-6515, USA. norbert.kruse@wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kruse