Tougaard background deconvolution study of the deposition of Langmuir–Blodgett films of long‐chain hydrocarbon amines with titanyl oxalate ions

Multilayers of a titanyl oxalate complex with n‐octadecylamine were picked up onto quartz substrates by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique. X‐ray photoemission was used to detect the various species in the film and their relative concentrations. A Tougaard background deconvolution analysis of the photoelectron spectra was performed using the differential inelastic scattering cross‐section determined from reflection electron energy‐loss spectroscopy. By contrast with previous work on layer‐structured arachidate films, this analysis indicated that the various elements in the film were present with homogenous depth distributions. This is consistent with XPS take‐off angle studies and with x‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy studies, which showed the film to be amorphous. The composition of the film was determined to be TiO_6.7C₄₉N_1.7, in reasonable agreement with the expected composition of TiO₉C₄₀N₂.