High-resolution core-level study of ZrC(100) and its reaction with oxygen

Results from a high-resolution core-level photoemission investigation of the (100) surface of a ZrC0.92 single crystal using synchrotron radiation are reported. A surface-shifted component was identified in the C 1s level while no shifted component could be observed in the Zr 3d level. A surface C 1s core-level shift of -0.23 eV was determined using a curve-fitting procedure. When using a thermochemical model and accounting only for the loss of coordination at the surface, a shift of -0.07 eV was predicted for the carbon level. Oxygen exposures were made for investigating the initial oxidation behavior and also for aiding in the assignment of surface-shifted features.