Study by XPS of ultra-thin nickel deposits on TiO sub 2 (100) supports with different stoichiometries

X-ray photoemission spectroscopy was used to study thin Ni deposits on monocrystalline titanium dioxide surfaces. These surfaces were submitted before deposition to different kinds of treatment in order to obtain samples with various fixed bulk as well as surface stoichiometries. The influence of these stoichiometries on the electronic structure of deposited Ni was studied. Reducing thermal treatments were also performed in situ and their consequences studied by XPS.