Tungsten

Binding energy values for the W 4f7/2 peak-shape are based on a survey of literature values (NIST database[1]) and on standard reference materials (WO3 and W metal[2]) analyzed using similar spectrometer conditions. The metal peak is found at ~31.3 eV [2] and has an asymmetric peak-shape with a FWHM (full-width at half maximum) of 0.38 to 0.46 eV depending on the lineshape and pass energy used. When fitting the metal component of a W 4f spectrum containing the metal and additional oxide species an additional component corresponding to the W 5p3/2 peak must be factored in (but remember to set its RSF to 0). The W 5p3/2 peak is set at 5.5 eV above the W 4f7/2 peak. Peak area ratios and FWHM's can be obtained from the CasaXPS ready file of tungsten metal. An example using the LA lineshape and a 20 eV pass energy is shown in Figure 1.



Figure 1. W 4f (and W 5p3/2) XPS spectrum for tungsten metal.

W 4f spectra with the metal and oxides are fit with a 4f7/2 – 4f5/2 doublet separation of 2.18 eV and with area ratios of 4:3. For the oxide peaks the W 5p3/2 component can be ignored as it is outside the main W 4f envelope (as opposed to the metal W 5p3/2 component which overlaps with the oxide components). The W(IV) and W(VI) - 4f7/2 and 4f5/2 peaks are generally all constrained to have equal FWHM. Binding energies are presented in Table 1. A CasaXPS ready example of fitting of the metal, carbide and oxide is presented here.

Table 1. W 4f7/2 binding energy data for various tungsten compounds[1].

O 1s values for WO3 and WO2 are 530.5 eV +/-0.2 eV (18 references) and 530.7 eV +/- 0.3 eV (4 references).

Other Notes:
A) The C 1s peak for WC (tungsten carbide) is at 282.7 - 283.0 eV [2].
B) Some papers[3] suggest that a W(V) species may be found (binding energy~ 34.4 eV) in some spectra. While molybdenum forms a stable pentoxide, tungsten does not. However there are a number of known W(V) compounds such as Nax(WO3) (where x is between 0 and 1)[4]. Proceed with caution when adding in peaks for any W(V) compound.

References:
1) http:/srdata.nist.gov/xps/
2) M.C. Biesinger, unpublished results (2009).
3) N.V. Alov, Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 60(5) (2005) 431-435.
4) A.G. Sharpe, Inorganic Chemistry, Longman Scientific & Technical (Wiley), New York, (1986) 628-634.