ELECTRON-IRRADIATION EFFECTS ON OXIDIZED NB FOIL AND NBO

Auger electron spectroscopy was used to study electron irradiation damage on niobium oxide. With the co-existence of O-2p and Nb-4d states in the valence band, the splitting of the MNN-type Auger transition peaks has been observed on Nb2O5 and oxidized Nb foil specimens. The results show that the surface of an electron-bombarded specimen becomes enriched with niobium due to irradiation-induced dissociation of the oxide and subsequent loss of oxygen. Supporting results obtained from electron stimulated desorption measurements, specimen coloration changes and layer-by-layer calculation of Auger intensity from an altered overlayer are also presented. © 1979 Chapman and Hall Ltd.