X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of S2N2 and the solid state polymerization of S2N2 to metallic (SN)x

Abstract
An x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) study of a thin film of S2N2 at −100 °C, involving the valence band, core‐level and core‐level shakeup, and energy‐loss spectra, is reported. The results are analyzed in terms of a molecular orbital model and previous optical data. In addition, the thermally induced solid state polymerization of S2N2 to metallic (SN)x was studied by recording the XPS spectra at −40, 0, and 20 °C. The valence band data show changes of the highest filled molecular orbitals of S2N2, consistent with the process of polymerization to the metallic state.