Synchrotron radiation study of mesoscopic manganese particles

• Published in: Surface science 1996-05, Vol.352, p.715-718
• Main Authors: Keen, A.M., Binns, C., Baker, S.H., Mozley, S., Norris, C., Thornton, S.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clusters; Magnetic surfaces; Manganese; Soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Vanadium
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/0039-6028(95)01250-8

We present a synchrotron radiation photoemission study of supported mesoscopic manganese particles deposited in situ from a gas aggregation source. Investigations have been carried out on both mass-filtered and unfiltered particle beams. With the source conditions used the unfiltered beam shows a log-normal distribution of particle sizes with the peak at 2.5 nm. Mass selection was achieved by a quadrupole filter set to pass particles of 3.8 × 10 4 amu, i.e. at the peak of the distribution. Exposed Mn clusters deposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) showed significant changes in the photoemission line shape of the 3s core level relative to bulk Mn, which is interpreted as an increase in the atomic magnetic moment. Unfiltered Mn clusters were also incorporated into a continuous Vanadium matrix to make a nano-scale granular film revealing a satellite structure in the photoemission spectrum of the V 3s core level which we ascribe to a magnetic polarisation of the V atoms in the vicinity of the Mn clusters.