Changes in the Spatial Distribution of Metals Under the Influence of Reaction Medium in the System Formed by a Gold Film Supported on the Surface of a Silver Foil

Abstract

Behavior of gold films supported on the surface of a silver foil is studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) when heated in a vacuum or in nitrogen dioxide (under pressure of 10⁻⁵ mbar) at 200 °C. The initial gold film is 2–2.7 nm thick. It is shown that the gold film dissolves in the silver foil volume during the heating to form an Ag–Au alloy. The behavior of the ratio of the AgMVV Auger line intensity to the Ag3d photoemission line intensity testifies that the alloy surface is enriched with silver. The enrichment proceeds more efficiently when the system is heated in the presence of NO₂.