X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies on core-shell structured nanocomposites

Core-shell nanostructures were grown in silica-based glasses. Copper–copper oxide and iron–iron oxide structures had diameters in the range 3–6 nm, with shell thicknesses 1–2 nm. Silver–lithium niobate core-shell nanostructures had diameters in the range 4.2–46 nm and thicknesses varying from 2.2 to 22 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies were carried out on all these specimens. The analyses of these results show the presence of Cu+/Cu2+, Fe2+/Fe3+ and Nb4+/Nb5+ valence states in the above three systems. Electrical resistivity data were fitted satisfactorily to the small polaron hopping model in the case of copper and iron-containing specimens. The presence of ions in the lithium niobate shell provides direct evidence of the formation of localized states between which variable range hopping conduction can be effected