Valency of Yb in PbS and PbTe Determined by XPS

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments on PbTe:Yb, PbS:Yb, PbTe, and PbS crystals have been performed using the monochromatized Al Kα radiation. The valence band spectrum of PbTe:Yb exhibits one set of peaks associated with divalent Yb initial states, but two sets associated with divalent and trivalent Yb are observed for PbS:Yb. The valency of Yb in PbTe:Yb is 2 (within an accuracy of the experiment) but in PbS:Yb the mixed valency of Yb is seen. These conclusions are confirmed by an analysis of Yb 4d spectra in PbTe:Yb and PbS:Yb crystals.