XPS study of V1.67Ti0.33O5±δ·nH2O xerogels intercalated with hydroquinone

Layered nanocomposites of V1.67Ti0.33O5±δ •nH2O gels are synthesized by using sol-gel technology.Then an aqueous solution of hydroquinone (HQ) was mixed with the formed gel in molar ratio 0.33 : 1 and 0.17 : 1 respectively.In this way the V1.67Ti0.33O5±δ •nH2O / 2HQ and V1.67Ti0.33O5±δ •nH2O / HQ gels were synthesized.The valences of vanadium and titanium ions in the investigated compounds are studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before and after etching the samples with Ar + ions for 15 min (3 keV, current density 10 µA cm -2 ).XPS analysis results show that independent of the hydroquinone intercalation degree (one or two hydroquinone) and Ar + ion etching the ions of titanium are in stable 4+ states.Vanadium ions in all cases (one or two hydroquinone, before and after etching) are in V 3+ , V 4+ , and V 5+ states.The increase in quantity of hydroquinone in the samples leads to higher concentration of V 3+ and V 4+ ions.The concentrations of lower valence vanadium ions increase after Ar + ion etching of the samples.