CNx film characterization by surface sensitive methods:: XPS and XAES

The C 1s and N 1s XPS spectra of samples prepared: in situ (nitrogen ion implantation to graphite); ex situ films with several ratio of C/N and C/N/O and melomine (C3N6H6) have been studied. The C 1s spectra of the standard C3N6H6 have splitting 3.3 eV that cannot be explain only by the chemical interaction; besides, in that compound the atoms of carbon have only one chemical state. It is very problematic to identify the C 1s spectrum in terms only of chemical shifts, but probably it is stipulated by some unknown physical properties of the CNx and CNxOy chemical compounds. The problems of the synthesis of C3N4 are the difficulties of the formation of stoichiometric compound and a monitoring of sp(3)-bonds of carbon atoms as well. The possibilities of the C KVV Auger identification of sp(2)-sp(3)-bonds in CNx and CNxOy are shown. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.