X-Ray Photoelectron Sprectroscopy (XPS)

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) is a non-destructive technique used to identify surface atoms and their chemical bonding states.

A standard XPS setup directs an X-ray onto the sample surface which causes photoelectrons to be emitted. These photoelectrons are then captured, and their energies are analyzed to determine the type of elements that are present on the surface. As the energy levels of electrons vary slightly depending on bonding states, XPS can provide quantitative bonding state information through the peak deconvolution. Most XPS systems are equipped with a sputtering beam to clean the surface and to understand the material composition bonding states as a function of depth. Although X-rays penetrate deep into materials, only electrons from the top 10 nm surface make it to the detector, which makes the technology very surface sensitive.

To read more on XPS, you can read our Key Tech brochure.

Services

Outermost Technology provides state-of-the-art XPS with an integrated report included with the resulting data for the following analyses:

Surface Scan: Non-Destructive Quantitative analysis up to 10 nm in depth
Depth Profile: Destructive Quantitative analysis up to 10 µm in depth
Angle Resolved: Non-Destructive Depth Profile up to 10 nm in depth
Powder: Compositional Analysis of Powder Material

Pricing

Pricing for XPS and other Materials Analysis services are provided on our Pricing Table

FAQ

Q: What types of analysis can XPS be used for?: A: XPS is used to characterize the materials in the surface regime, in terms of composition and bonding states, in a quantitative way.

Equipment

Thermo Fisher Scientific K-Alpha XPS System

Analyzer — 180° double focusing hemispherical analyzer with 128-channel detector
X-ray source — Al Ka micro-focused monochromator with variable spot size
Ion Gun — Energy range 100-4000 eV
Charge Compensation — Dual beam source
Sample Size — 4-axis sample stage, 60 x 60 mm sample area, 20 mm maximum sample thickness
Options — Vacuum transfer module, tilt module for ARXPS, sample bias module

To learn more about the capabilities of the Thermo Fisher Scientific K-Alpha XPS System, read more here.