High resolution spectroscopic and microscopic signatures of ordered growth of ferrous sulfate in SO2 assisted corrosion of Fe3O4(100)

The authors present a high-resolution core-level photoemission study of a Fe3O4(100) surface exposed to 50 L (1 L=10(-6) mbar s) of H2O and 50 L of SO2. S 2p core-level spectra reveal the presence of SO3 and SO4 species. An additional peak in the Fe 3p core-level spectrum shows that they bond with iron from the substrate. Complementary scanning tunneling microscopy of the same surface demonstrates formation of a long-range ordered sulfate locked in the (root 2x root 2)R45 degrees-surface potential.
QC 20100525