Practical guide for x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: Applications to the study of catalysts

Abstract

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has become a standard tool for the study of catalytic materials over the last two decades, and with the increasing popularity of turnkey XPS systems, the analysis of these types of materials is open to an even wider audience. However, increased accessibility leads to an increase in the number of new or inexperienced practitioners, leading to erroneous data collection and interpretation. Over many years of working on a wide range of catalytic materials, the authors have developed procedures for the planning and execution of XPS analysis and subsequent data analysis, and this guide has been produced to help users of all levels of expertise to question their approach toward analysis and get the most out of the technique and avoiding some common pitfalls.