Focused Topic Collection: Near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Near-ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) is a relatively new form of XPS which is rapidly finding wide-spread usage. NAP-XPS systems feature extraction optics with multiple stages of differential pumping that allow spectra to be collected from specimens residing in test chambers over a wide range of pressures (ultra-high vacuum to 10 kPa). These systems can be used with either laboratory-based or synchrotron-based sources. In addition to being able to analyze materials with high vapor pressures, NAP-XPS has also found operando applications such as gas dosing, electrochemistry, and catalysis. This focused topic collection features papers in which NAP-XPS is used.

Image credit: Christopher R. O'Connor, Jorge Anibal Boscoboinik, Mustafa Karatok and Matthijs A. van Spronsen, Surface Science Spectra 28, 014008 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0001066