Electron spectroscopy applied to metastable ceramic solution phases

Due to its high surface sensitivity, electron spectroscopy has proven to be a powerful tool for the determination of binding states and electronic structures of thin films. The principal processes of electrons and photons interacting with a surface are briefly discussed. Special attention is paid to the determination of binding states, near range orders and the electronic structures in ceramics by Auger- and Photoelectron Spectroscopy (AES and XPS) as well as Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS). The particularities of electron spectroscopy of metastable ternary ceramic solution phases which have been deposited by means of reactive magnetron sputtering are described. Because of their continuous change in composition and, thus, in chemical environment, these solution phases are attractive systems for the analysis of the effects of chemical environment upon binding states and the electronic structure of ceramics.