Electronic structure of SnO and SnO2 layers on Rh(111)

The electronic structures of SnO, Sn2O3 and SnO2 layers adsorbed on the Rh(111) surface have been calculated by DFT. A drastic difference between densities of states of SnO and SnO2 in the energy range that corresponds to O 2s and Sn 4d states can be used for an unambiguous determination of the degree of the tin oxidation. In particular, the complex structure of the Sn 4d peak in photoemission spectra ultimately indicates the formation of SnO2 rather than SnO species in adsorbed layers.