Peak shape analysis of Ag 3d core-level X-ray photoelectron spectra of Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles using an asymmetric Gaussian–Lorentzian mixed function

This article reports on the peak shape analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectra of gold-silver core-shell (Au@Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) using an asymmetric Gaussian–Lorentzian mixed function. Unlike Ag NPs, Au@Ag NPs have no oxide peak and show asymmetric line shape with a high energy tail in Ag 3d core-level spectra. A monotonic increase in the Ag 3d binding energy and a decrease in the degree of asymmetry with increasing the Ag shell thickness were observed supporting the occurrence of charge transfer from Au core to Ag shell. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.