Relationship between the Auger parameter and the ground state valence charge of the core-ionized atom: the case of Cu(I) and Cu (II) compounds

We develop a simple semiempirical model that correlates the Auger parameter to the ground state valence charge of the core-ionized atom with closed shell electron configuration. Until now, the Auger parameter was employed to separate initial and final state effects that influence the core electron binding energy. The model is applied to Cu(I) and Cu (II) compounds with the Auger parameter defined as α' = Eb FL (2p3/2) + Ek FL (L3M45M45;1G). The Auger parameter shift for Cu(I) ion in CuI, CuBr, CuFeS2, Cu2S, and Cu2O compounds—with respect to the copper free atom—increases with the electronic polarizability of the nearest-neighbour ligands suggesting a nonlocal screening mechanism. This relaxation process is interpreted as due to an electron transfer from the nearest-neighbour ligands toward the spatially extended 4sp valence orbitals of the core-ionized Cu(I) ion. In agreement with our model, a linear relationship is found between the Auger parameter shift and the ground state Bader valence charge obtained by density functional theory calculations. The Auger parameter shift for the Cu (II) ion in CuF2, CuCl2, CuBr2, CuSO4, Cu (NO3)2•3H2O, Cu3(PO4)2, Cu (OH)2, and CuO compounds is very close to the Auger parameter of metallic copper, and therefore, it is not related to the calculated ground state Bader valence charge. The relaxation process in the final state is dominated by the local screening mechanism, which involves an electron transfer from the nearest-neighbour ligands toward the spatially contracted 3d orbitals of the core-ionized Cu (II) ion. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.