Surface Characterization Study of the Thermal Decomposition of Ag2CO3

The changes in chemical states and composition of the surface region of a Ag 2 CO 3 powder at various stages during thermal decomposition have been examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). The near-surface region of the as-received powder consists primarily of Ag 2 CO 3 although some hydrocarbon and alcohol contaminants also are present. A 155 °C anneal results in partial decomposition of Ag 2 CO 3 to Ag metal and oxides and reduces the amounts of the C contaminants. An anneal at 170 °C causes further decomposition of the Ag 2 CO 3 to Ag metal, Ag 2 O, and AgO. ISS data indicate that at 205 °C oxygen migrates more rapidly to the outermost atomic layer than it desorbs, resulting in an increased oxygen concentration. The AgO species undergoes further decomposition to Ag 2 O during a 340 °C anneal treatment. Between 340 and 430 °C the Ag 2 O decomposes, leaving only Ag metal and subsurface oxygen in the near-surface region of the sample. These results are consistent with temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) data which exhibit a CO 2 peak at 260 °C and an O 2 peak at 420 °C. Both the XPS and TPR data indicate that the thermal decomposition of these species are activated since their decompositions occur at temperatures much higher than predicted by equilibrium thermodynamic calculations.