XPS and UPS Valence Band Studies of Nanocrystalline Ni-Ti Alloy Thin Films

In this contribution we study valence bands of in-situ prepared nanocrystalline NiTi and Ni₃Ti alloy thin films using X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, theoretical valence band of NiTi alloy was calculated by ab-initio methods. The structure and morphology of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Furthermore, hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics at a pressure of about 1000 mbar were studied in Pd covered nanocrystalline NiTi alloy thin film using four-point resistivity measurements. Results showed that modifications of the valence bands of the Ni-Ti thin films due nanocrystalline structure can influence on the room temperature hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics.