XPS study of the effect of Ar-ion bombardment and aging on surface properties of superionic conducting glass (CuI)_0.3(Cu₂O)_0.35(MoO₃) _0.35

XPS analysis has been used for characterizing the effects of argon-ion bombardment and aging at room temperature on the surface properties of the superionic conducting glass having the composition (CuI)_0.3(Cu₂O)_0.35(MoO₃) _0.35. Copper and molybdenum ions in this particular glass are found to be significantly reduced by argon-ion bombardment, Cu²⁺ to Cu⁰ and Mo⁶⁺ to Mo⁴⁺. The chemical change is attributed to preferential sputtering of iodine and oxygen from the surface of the glass. The concentration of copper on the surface increases and that of molybdenum decreases with aging at room temperature. From aging curves, the diffusion coefficient of copper is estimated to be of the order of 10^-23 m²-s^-1.