Surface characterization study of the thermal decomposition of Ag2CO3 using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (ELS) have been used to examine Ag2CO3 powder before and after annealing in vacuum at 350 and 500° C. The data indicate that the Ag2CO3 decomposes in a stagewise manner to Ag2O and then Ag metal. ELS reference spectra have also been obtained from Ag-containing standards including Ag metal, Ag2O and AgO; and these spectra have been used as the basis for understanding the ELS data obtained from Ag2CO3 before and after decomposition.