An XPS study of nitrogen-sulfur compounds

An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study has been conducted on a series of nitrogen-sulfur compounds to characterize the charge shifts on the nitrogen and sulfur atoms in the molecules. In all of the compounds, the sulfur was found to have a 1s binding energy equivalent to a formal charge of +6. The nitrogen 1s binding energies varied in a systematic manner that reflected the change in oxidation state. The XPS results have been used to provide insight into the formation of these compounds in two reaction systems.