Metal Auger intensity ratios in transition metals and their compounds

Metal Auger intensity ratios of the type I(CVV)/I(CC′V) and I(CVV)/I(CC′C″), where C, C′ and C″ denote core levels and V stands for a valence level, are shown to increase progressively with the number of valence electrons in the metal in the case of second-row transition metals and their oxides. Metal Auger intensity ratios in chalcogenides of transition metals can be correlated by taking the effective atomic charge on the metal into consideration. The possible use of metal Auger intensity ratios in the study of surface oxidation of second-row transition metals is illustrated in the case of zirconium.