Ionization of the core level results in an M q +1 ion (first step). The core-hole decay processes (second step) include two local phenomena, AugerMeitner and fluorescence decay, and a non-local channel, ICD. In the dominant AugerMeitner decay, the core hole is filled by a metal-ion valence electron, with the released energy leading to emission of another metal-ion valence electron, resulting in M q +2 . In the fluorescence decay, the energy released is emitted as a photon, resulting in M q +1 . ICD constitutes a process in which the released energy leads to emission of a valence electron from a neighbouring species, resulting in M q +1 and H 2 O + . In a third step, the metal outer-valence holes produced in the second step can be filled via different ETMD processes. Assuming the second step took place by AugerMeitner decay, in the ETMD(2) process, a valence hole on M q +2 is filled by a valence electron from a neighbouring water molecule, and the released energy causes emission of another valence electron from the same water molecule, resulting in M q +1 and H 2 O 2+ . In ETMD(3), a valence hole on M q +2 is filled by a valence electron from a neighbouring water molecule, and the released energy causes emission of another valence electron from yet another water molecule, resulting in M q +1 + 2(H 2 O + ). The remaining valence hole on the metal centre can be filled in another ETMD process (not shown).
