X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy was used to characterize the effects of Ar-ion bombardment and aging at room temperature upon the surface properties of a superionic conducting glass with the composition: (Cu2O)0.35-(MoO3)0.35-(CuI)0.30. The Cu and Mo ions in the glass were found to be significantly reduced by the Ar-ion bombardment: Cu2+ → Cu0 and Mo6+ → Mo4+. The chemical change was attributed to the preferential sputtering of I and O from the glass surface. The Cu concentration on the surface increased, and that of Mo decreased, upon aging at room temperature. On the basis of aging curves, the Cu diffusion coefficient was estimated to be of the order of 10-23m2/s.

XPS Study of the Effect of Ar-Ion Bombardment and Aging on Surface Properties of Superionic Conducting Glass. S.Suzuki, M.Saito, S.C.Kang, K.T.Jacob, Y.Waseda: Materials Transactions, 1998, 39[10], 1024-8