Titanium

Initial fitting parameters for the titanium 2p peak were developed using averaged binding energy (BE) data and 2p1/2 – 2p3/2 splitting data from the NIST XPS Database[1] (Table 1). As well, data from readily available standard samples (metal, TiO2) [2,3] were used to clarify the peak-widths, splitting (Δ=6.05 eV for Ti(0), Δ=5.72 eV for Ti(IV)) and shapes (asymmetric for the metallic component) (Table 2) [3]. An example of the use of these parameters is presented for a mixed oxidation state titanium-containing sample in Figure 1. Although C 1s set to 284.8 eV can be used as an internal charge correction it is also possible in this case to use the Ti 2p3/2 metal peak set at 453.7 eV or the clearly defined Ti(IV) (TiO2) 2p3/2 peak set at 458.6 eV. This removes the uncertainty associated with charge correcting to adventitious C especially in situations where the adventitious overlayer is not in good electrical contact with the titanium containing species underneath. The Ti 2p1/2 peak for each species is constrained to be at a fixed energy above the Ti 2p3/2 peak. The intensity ratio of the Ti 2p3/2 and Ti 2p1/2 peaks are also constrained to 2:1. The FWHM’s for the metal and Ti(IV) peaks are derived from the standard sample analyses. The FWHM’s for Ti(II) (at a BE of 455.4 eV) and Ti(III) (at a BE of 457.2 eV), which are likely structurally loosely ordered, are constrained to have equal width to each other and are generally slightly broader than the well ordered Ti(IV) oxide peaks [2,3]. A CasaXPS ready (.vms file) of mixed titanium species can be downloaded here. Further information and expanded discussion can be found in reference [3].

Figure 1. Ti 2p spectrum of a heat-treated Ti-apatite composite using peak fittings derived from Tables 1 and 2.Table 1. Literature values (from [1]) for Ti 2p3/2 spectra.Table 2. Spectral fitting parameters for Ti 2p: binding energy (eV), percentage of total area, FWHM value (eV) for each pass energy, and spectral component separation (eV).


References:
[1] C.D. Wagner, A.V. Naumkin, A. Kraut-Vass, J.W. Allison, C.J. Powell, J.R.Jr. Rumble, NIST Standard Reference Database 20, Version 3.4 (web version) (http:/srdata.nist.gov/xps/) 2003.
[2] M.C. Biesinger, B.P. Payne, B.R. Hart, A.P. Grosvenor, N.S. McIntye, L.W.M. Lau, R.St.C. Smart, Quantitative Chemical State XPS Analysis of First Row Transition Metals, Oxides and Hydroxides, IVC-17/ICSS-13 and ICN+T2007, Stockholm July 2-6, 2007, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 100, 012025 (2008).
[3] M.C. Biesinger, L.W.M. Lau, A. Gerson, R.St.C. Smart, Resolving Surface Chemical States in XPS Analysis of First Row Transition Metals, Oxides and Hydroxides: Sc, Ti, V, Cu and Zn, Applied Surface Science, 257 (2010) 887-898.