Surface composition of a Ag-5.1Cu (mass%) alloy

Abstract X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was applied to study the evolution of surface composition in a polycrystalline Ag-5.1Cu mass% alloy during in-situ annealing in ultra-high vacuum at temperatures ranging between 300 °C and 600 °C. The results show an enrichment of copper on the free surface. The results imply that the compositional changes at the surface of this alloy are dominated by copper segregation at grain boundaries.