X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY CHARACTERIZATION OF AMORPHOUS MOLYBDENUM OXYSULFIDE THIN-FILMS

In this study, new amorphous molybdenum oxysulfide thin films, prepared by r.f. magnetron sputtering and which could be used as positive electrode materials in microbatteries, were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In light of the binding energies obtained for reference compounds (different molybdenum oxides and sulfides), the results have shown the existence of several environments of molybdenum atoms. In addition to environments such as in MoO3 and MoS2, a new one has been identified; the closest neighbors of this molybdenum appear to be isolated ''S2-'', disulfide ''(S-2)(2-)'' ions, and ''O2-'' ions with the sulfur ions present in the same proportions as the oxygen ions.