Peak fitting of the chromium 2p XPS spectrum

An XPS investigation of loss feature and peak shape analysis of the chromium 2p region has been performed. The approach is based on the use of a modified Shirley background model and requires the estimation of an individual background for each component of the photopeak under examination. The results obtained from the analysis of clean and oxidised chromium metal and pure Cr2O3, notwithstanding possible shortcomings in the model, give evidence for the importance of a proper consideration of satellite structures in the peak synthesis of Cr 2p XPS spectra. The results also have important ramifications in the peak fitting of the 2p spectra of other d-band transition metals such as manganese, iron and cobalt.