Gd2O3 nanostructured thin films analyzed by XPS

The present work was devoted to the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) investigation of the principal core levels of a nanostructured Gd2O3 thin film. The sample was synthesized by Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) from Gd((iPrN)2CNMe2)3 as precursor at 500°C in an N2/O2 atmosphere. XPS results evidenced a marked Gd2O3 reactivity towards atmospheric CO2 and H2O, leading to a surface composition characterized by the co-presence of gadolinium carbonates/bicarbonates and hydroxides.