Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 93: Electronic structure of surfaces: Spectroscopy, surface states III
O 93.3: Talk
Friday, March 13, 2026, 10:00–10:15, HSZ/0201
Experimental Verification of the d-band Center Model in Au/Pt Systems: A Low-Energy XPS Study — •Justyna Piwowar1, 2, 3 and Adam Lewera3 — 1Center for Quantum Nanoscience (QNS), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea — 2Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea — 3Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw Pasteura 1 02-093 Warszawa
This work presents an experimental verification of the relationship between electronic structure and electrocatalytic properties in Pt-based materials, specifically critically evaluating the d-band center theory. Using Au-modified Pt as a model system, surface electronic properties were probed via X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). We demonstrate that employing low-energy X-ray sources (Zr Mγ, 151 eV) provides superior surface sensitivity compared to standard sources (~1500 eV), allowing for the detection of subtle surface electronic shifts otherwise masked by bulk signals.
We observed a nonlinear evolution of electronic properties in Au/Pt thin films, specifically in core-level binding energies, which correlates with synergistic catalytic activity in formic acid oxidation. Detailed analysis of the valence band spectra reveals that significant modifications in the Density of States (DOS) near the Fermi level can occur even when the calculated shift in d-band center is negligible, due to spectral redistribution on both sides of the centroid. These findings indicate that the d-band center parameter alone may be insufficient to describe complex electronic structure modifications.
Keywords: d- band center; catalysis; low energy XPS; Fermi level Density of States; Au/Pt thin layers