Surface chemical reactions induced on pyrite by ion bombardment

Abstract

Through X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), we studied the chemical changes induced in a natural crystal of pyrite (FeS2) upon exposure to 4.5 keV He+ beam. We found an important reducing effect induced by ion bombardment leading to the production of iron embedded in the pyrite matrix. Through a combination of the usual Doniach–Sunjic treatment and Factor Analysis of XPS yields, we were able of analyzing the full Fe 2p XPS signal. We could in this way distinguish Fe compounds with the same binding energy for the Fe 2p3/2 yield. Our results show that He+ bombardment disrupts the ionic environment producing S2−2 and S0, Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions, and the reduction to metallic iron. The remaining pyrite matrix does not passivate the embedded iron structures, which are readily oxidized under air exposure. The oxide formed resembled that of magnetite from the XPS point of view. Further He+ bombardment proved to be efficient to reduce the iron oxide back to iron again.