Frank M. F. de Groot

Core Level Spectroscopy of Solids

INTRODUCTION FUNDAMENTAL ASPECTS OF CORE LEVEL SPECTROSCOPIES Core holes Overview of core level spectroscopies Interaction of x-rays with matter Optical transition operators and x-ray absorption spectrum The interaction of electrons with matter X-ray sources Electron sources MANY-BODY CHARGE-TRANSFER EFFECTS IN XPS AND XAS Introduction Many-body charge-transfer effects in XPS General expressions of many-body effects General effects in XPS spectra Typical examples of XPS spectra Many-body charge-transfer effects in XAS Comparison of XPS and XAS CHARGE TRANSFER MULTIPLET THEORY Atomic multiplet theory Ligand field multiplet theory The charge transfer multiplet theory X-RAY PHOTOEMISSION SPECTROSCOPY Introduction Experimental aspects XPS of TM compounds XPS of RE compounds Resonant photoemission spectroscopy Hard XPS Resonant inverse photoemission spectroscopy Nonlocal screening effect in XPS Auger photoemission coincidence spectroscopy Spin polarization and magnetic dichroism in XPS X-RAY ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY Basics of XAS Experimental aspects The L2, 3 edges of 3d TM systems Other x-ray absorption spectra of the 3d TM systems X-ray absorption spectra of the 4d and 5d TM systems X-ray absorption spectra of the 4f RE and 5f actinide systems X-RAY MAGNETIC CIRCULAR DICHROISM Introduction XMCD effects in the L2, 3 edges of TM ions and compounds Sum rules XMCD effects in the K edges of transition metals XMCD effects in the M edges of rare earths XMCD effects in the L edges of rare earth systems Applications of XMCD RESONANT X-RAY EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY Introduction Rare earth compounds High Tc Cuprates and related materials Nickel and Cobalt compounds Iron and Manganese compounds Early transition metal compounds Electron spin states detected by RXES and NXES MCD in RXES of ferromagnetic systems APPENDICES Precise derivation of XPS formula Derivation of Eq. (88) in Chapter 3 Fundamental tensor theory Derivation of the orbital moment sum rule Theoretical test of the spin sum rule Calculations of XAS spectra with single electron excitation models REFERENCES INDEX

The CTM4XAS program for EELS and XAS spectral shape analysis of transition metal L edges

The CTM4XAS program for the analysis of transition metal L edge Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) or X-ray Absorption Spectra (XAS) is explained. The physical background of the calculations is briefly discussed. The program consists of three theoretical components, based on, respectively, atomic multiplet theory, crystal field theory and charge transfer theory. The theoretical concepts are explained and a number of examples are presented. The calculation of the 2p EELS and XAS spectra of transition metal ions, is given in detail, including their Magnetic Circular Dichroism (MCD). In addition, examples of 1s, 2s, 3s, 2p and 3p X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS) are given.

Nanoscale chemical imaging of a working catalyst by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy

The modern chemical industry uses heterogeneous catalysts in almost every production process. They commonly consist of nanometre-size active components (typically metals or metal oxides) dispersed on a high-surface-area solid support, with performance depending on the catalysts’ nanometre-size features and on interactions involving the active components, the support and the reactant and product molecules. To gain insight into the mechanisms of heterogeneous catalysts, which could guide the design of improved or novel catalysts, it is thus necessary to have a detailed characterization of the physicochemical composition of heterogeneous catalysts in their working state at the nanometre scale. Scanning probe microscopy methods have been used to study inorganic catalyst phases at subnanometre resolution, but detailed chemical information of the materials in their working state is often difficult to obtain. By contrast, optical microspectroscopic approaches offer much flexibility for in situ chemical characterization; however, this comes at the expense of limited spatial resolution. A recent development promising high spatial resolution and chemical characterization capabilities is scanning transmission X-ray microscopy, which has been used in a proof-of-principle study to characterize a solid catalyst. Here we show that when adapting a nanoreactor specially designed for high-resolution electron microscopy, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy can be used at atmospheric pressure and up to 350 °C to monitor in situ phase changes in a complex iron-based Fisher–Tropsch catalyst and the nature and location of carbon species produced. We expect that our system, which is capable of operating up to 500 °C, will open new opportunities for nanometre-resolution imaging of a range of important chemical processes taking place on solids in gaseous or liquid environments.

The 1s x-ray absorption pre-edge structures in transition metal oxides

We develop a general procedure to analyse the pre-edges in 1s x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) of transition metal oxides and coordination complexes. Transition metal coordination complexes can be described from a local model with one metal ion. The 1s 3d quadrupole transitions are calculated with the charge-transfer multiplet program. Tetrahedral coordination complexes have more intense pre-edge structures due to the local mixing of 3d and 4p states, implying a combination of 1s 3d quadrupole and 1s 4p dipole transitions. Divalent transition metal oxides can be described similar to coordination complexes, but for trivalent and tetravalent oxides, additional structures are visible in the pre-edge region due to non-local dipole transitions. The 1s 4p dipole transitions have large cross section at the 3d-band region due to the strong metal-metal interactions, which are oxygen mediated. This yields large intensity in the 3d-band region but at a different energy than the local 1s 3d quadrupole transitions because of smaller core-hole effects due to the delocalization of the excited electron.

Femtosecond Soft X-ray Spectroscopy of Solvated Transition-Metal Complexes: Deciphering the Interplay of Electronic and Structural Dynamics

We present the first implementation of femtosecond soft X-ray spectroscopy as an ultrafast direct probe of the excited-state valence orbitals in solution-phase molecules. This method is applied to photoinduced spin crossover of [Fe(tren(py)3)](2+), where the ultrafast spin-state conversion of the metal ion, initiated by metal-to-ligand charge-transfer excitation, is directly measured using the intrinsic spin-state selectivity of the soft X-ray L-edge transitions. Our results provide important experimental data concerning the mechanism of ultrafast spin-state conversion and subsequent electronic and structural dynamics, highlighting the potential of this technique to study ultrafast phenomena in the solution phase.

Photo-Induced Spin-State Conversion in Solvated Transition Metal Complexes Probed via Time-Resolved Soft X-ray Spectroscopy

Solution-phase photoinduced low-spin to high-spin conversion in the Fe(II) polypyridyl complex [Fe(tren(py)(3))](2+) (where tren(py)(3) is tris(2-pyridylmethyliminoethyl)amine) has been studied via picosecond soft X-ray spectroscopy. Following (1)A(1) --> (1)MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) excitation at 560 nm, changes in the iron L(2)- and L(3)-edges were observed concomitant with formation of the transient high-spin (5)T(2) state. Charge-transfer multiplet calculations coupled with data acquired on low-spin and high-spin model complexes revealed a reduction in ligand field splitting of approximately 1 eV in the high-spin state relative to the singlet ground state. A significant reduction in orbital overlap between the central Fe-3d and the ligand N-2p orbitals was directly observed, consistent with the expected ca. 0.2 A increase in Fe-N bond length upon formation of the high-spin state. The overall occupancy of the Fe-3d orbitals remains constant upon spin crossover, suggesting that the reduction in sigma-donation is compensated by significant attenuation of pi-back-bonding in the metal-ligand interactions. These results demonstrate the feasibility and unique potential of time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy to study ultrafast reactions in the liquid phase by directly probing the valence orbitals of first-row metals as well as lighter elements during the course of photochemical transformations.

Pressure-Induced Magnetic Switching and Linkage Isomerism in K0.4Fe4(Cr(CN)6)2.8 ·16H2O: X-ray Absorption and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Studies

The effect of applied pressure on the magnetic properties of the Prussian blue analogue K0.4Fe4[Cr(CN)6]2.8 x 16 H2O (1) has been analyzed by dc and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements. Under ambient conditions, 1 orders ferromagnetically at a critical temperature (T(C)) of 18.5 K. Under application of pressure in the 0-1200 MPa range, the magnetization of the material decreases and its critical temperature shifts to lower temperatures, reaching T(C) = 7.5 K at 1200 MPa. Pressure-dependent Raman and Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements show that this striking behavior is due to the isomerization of some Cr(III)-C[triple bond]N-Fe(II) linkages to the Cr(III)-N[triple bond]C-Fe(II) form. As a result, the ligand field around the iron(II) centers increases, and the diamagnetic low-spin state is populated. As the number of diamagnetic centers in the cubic lattice increases, the net magnetization and critical temperature of the material decrease considerably. The phenomenon is reversible: releasing the pressure restores the magnetic properties of the original material. However, we have found that under more severe pressure conditions, a metastable sample containing 22% Cr(III)-N[triple bond]C-Fe(II) linkages can be obtained. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism of this metastable sample confirm the linkage isomerization process.

Phase Transformation and Lithiation Effect on Electronic Structure of LixFePO4: An In-Depth Study by Soft X-ray and Simulations

Through soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy, hard X-ray Raman scattering, and theoretical simulations, we provide the most in-depth and systematic study of the phase transformation and (de)lithiation effect on electronic structure in Li(x)FePO(4) nanoparticles and single crystals. Soft X-ray reveals directly the valence states of Fe 3d electrons in the vicinity of Fermi level, which is sensitive to the local lattice distortion, but more importantly offers detailed information on the evolution of electronic states at different electrochemical stages. The soft X-ray spectra of Li(x)FePO(4) nanoparticles evolve vividly with the (de)lithiation level. The spectra fingerprint the (de)lithiation process with rich information on Li distribution, valency, spin states, and crystal field. The high-resolution spectra reveal a subtle but critical deviation from two-phase transformation in our electrochemically prepared samples. In addition, we performed both first-principles calculations and multiplet simulations of the spectra and quantitatively determined the 3d valence states that are completely redistributed through (de)lithiation. This electronic reconfiguration was further verified by the polarization-dependent spectra collected on LiFePO(4) single crystals, especially along the lithium diffusion direction. The evolution of the 3d states is overall consistent with the local lattice distortion and provides a fundamental picture of the (de)lithiation effects on electronic structure in the Li(x)FePO(4) system.

In‐situ Scanning Transmission X‐Ray Microscopy of Catalytic Solids and Related Nanomaterials

The present status of in-situ scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is reviewed, with an emphasis on the abilities of the STXM technique in comparison with electron microscopy. The experimental aspects and interpretation of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) are briefly introduced and the experimental boundary conditions that determine the potential applications for in-situ XAS and in-situ STXM studies are discussed. Nanoscale chemical imaging of catalysts under working conditions is outlined using cobalt and iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts as showcases. In the discussion, we critically compare STXM-XAS and STEM-EELS (scanning transmission electron microscopy-electron energy loss spectroscopy) measurements and indicate some future directions of in-situ nanoscale imaging of catalytic solids and related nanomaterials.

In Situ Synchrotron-Based IR Microspectroscopy To Study Catalytic Reactions in Zeolite Crystals†

In recent years a number of in situ microspectroscopic techniques have been explored to investigate catalytic reactions taking place in heterogeneous catalysts in a timeand space-resolved manner.[1–8] These spectroscopic methods have proven to be very successful in elucidating valuable structure–function relationships for acid–base catalytic reactions. In the work of Roeffaers et al. fluorescence microscopy has been applied to demonstrate the crystal-face-dependent catalysis on layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials.[1] By this elegant approach one can track interconversion processes of individual molecules in catalytic solids and obtain indirect data on the chemical nature of the reaction products formed, provided they display fluorescence. For example, the red shift of the emission bands of specific carbocations formed was used to visualize the degree of oligomerization of cyclic alcohols in individual H-ZSM-5 zeolite particles.[3]