Evidence of ‘mixed-valency’ character in the X-ray photoelectron spectra of α-diantimony tetraoxide and barium bismuth trioxide

Abstract

X-Ray photoelectron spectra of the metal(III)–metal(V) oxides α-Sb₂O₄ and BaBiO₃ are reported. Indications of ‘mixed-valency’ character in the metal core-electron spectra could be found only after careful pretreatment of the samples in situ. Under normal conditions both compounds appear to have surface phases containing just the lower oxidation state.