An x-ray photoelectron and electron energy loss study of the oxidation of lead

Lead–oxygen compounds and the exposures of clean polycrystalline Pb0 to O2, H2O, and air at various temperatures have been studied with x-ray photoelectron (XPS) and electron energy loss (EELS) spectroscopies. Results indicate that the shape of the Auger O KVV lines and EELS are sufficiently different to distinguish PbO, PbO2, Pb3O4, and carbonate–hydroxide. Differences in the EELS spectra indicate that orthorhombic PbO is formed on clean Pb0 exposed to dry O2 at temperatures below the melting point of Pb0, and tetragonal PbO is formed at or above its melting point.