Charge transfer and band bending at Au/Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 interfaces investigated by photoelectron spectroscopy

► First follow-up by XPS, with detailed curve fitting, of the interface Au/PZT. ► Nearly perfect composition transfer from the target to the PZT film by pulsed laser deposition. ► A 0.94 eV binding energy difference between P(+) and P(0) areas of the PZT surface. ► Evidence of 0.45 eV band bending toward higher binding energies with Au deposition.