VG ESCALAB Mk I

//NOTE - This system is currently out of operation awaiting relocation//

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) or often referred to in general terms as Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA). Used in the element identification of samples and can also provide information about an element's chemical environment or oxidation state. Can be used for almost any solid material, including insulators.

Typical applications

• Characterisation of the chemistry of surface treatments
• Functional group identification
• Corrosion /oxidation studies
• Evaluation of surface cleanliness
• Catalyst characterisation

Theory

XPS can also provide detailed chemical information about the surface, as the energy of the photoelectron is dependent on the local chemical environment of the atom from which it arose. This often allows the chemistry of the surface to be inferred and the functional groups present to be identified.