Confirmation of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Peak Attributions of Nanoparticulate Iron Oxides, Using Symmetric Peak Component Line Shapes

We use high purity Fe oxide nanoparticles to confirm the Fe 2p X-ray photoemission peak attributions made in our previous study of Fe nanoparticles and the initial stage of their oxidation. To accomplish this, we have found it necessary to consider the spectral contributions of the ligand field of the Fe−O crystal structure, the crystalline disorder at the nanoparticle surface, and the Russell−Saunders broadening of the FeIII components of the Fe 2p spectra.