Initial oxidation of polycrystalline Permalloy surface

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and work-function measurements were used in combination to investigate the initial steps of Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) oxidation at room temperature. They showed that, after oxygen saturation, the surface is covered by nickel oxide (NiO), nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) and iron oxides (FexOy), and there is no preferential oxidation. Iron oxidation proceeds through the formation of FeO (Fe2+) followed with Fe2O3 growth (Fe3+). The oxidation is governed by a dissociative Langmuir-type oxidation: the sticking coefficient is decreasing over oxygen exposure. Oxidation continues by oxygen dissolution into the first layers to form a nano-oxide of about 8 Å in thickness.