HarwellXPS: A National Research Facility in XPS
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
We propose a renewed National Research Facility (NRF) in Photoemission Spectroscopy to serve the UK scientific community sustainably for the next five years and beyond. HarwellXPS has a six-year track record of excellence, providing innovative and cutting-edge photoemission analysis and community leadership. We have had considerable impact in terms of scientific outputs (>300 papers using our data, or more than 1 per week on average), expanding use of XPS, developing new methodology, and training the next generation of photoemission practitioners. The ambitious, new, expanded service we propose here will continue this tradition.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Robert Palgrave (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bargiela P
(2024)
Surface chemistry of ion beam modified native titania/Ti interfaces examined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
in Results in Surfaces and Interfaces
Bhatia H
(2023)
Exploring Bismuth Coordination Complexes as Visible-Light Absorbers: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photophysical Properties
in Inorganic Chemistry
Camacho S
(2025)
Layered double hydroxides for H2 generation by the photoreforming of organic compounds
in Catalysis Today
Doughty T
(2024)
Structural Reconstruction of a Cobalt- and Ferrocene-Based Metal-Organic Framework during the Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution Reaction.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Falsaperna M
(2024)
Alkali Metal Iridates as Oxygen Evolution Catalysts Via Thermal Transformation of Amorphous Iridium (oxy)hydroxides.
in ChemCatChem
Inns D
(2025)
Elucidating the effect of nanocube support morphology on the hydrogenolysis of polypropylene over Ni/CeO 2 catalysts
in Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Isaacs M
(2023)
XPS surface analysis of ceria-based materials: Experimental methods and considerations
in Applied Surface Science Advances
Kaare K
(2023)
Study of the electrocatalytic activity of silicon and nitrogen co-doped carbon towards oxygen reduction reaction
in Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry
Keirouz A
(2024)
Synergistic Interface Platforms: Designing Superhydrophilic Conductive Nanoparticle-Decorated Nanofibrous Membranes
in Advanced Materials Interfaces
Lee R
(2023)
Phase Quantification of Heterogeneous Surfaces Using DFT-Simulated Valence Band Photoemission Spectra.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
| Title | Electrochemical XPS |
| Description | We developed an electrochemical XPS tool to allow measurements of electrochemistry to be made inside the XPS spectrometer. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Engagement with the Faraday Institution to measure in situ battery materials. |
| Title | Correlation analysis in XPS |
| Description | We introduced a method of correlation analysis in XPS data interpretation, allowing chemical knowledge to be inputted into XPS modelling. |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Adoption by other research groups. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.160808 |
| Description | Residential Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We ran an international 5 day residential summer school in September 2024, at the Vale Resort, Cardiff, with attendees from UK, Europe, North and South America. We had leading international tutors, industry representatives and our own core team to teach XPS to 70 paying attendees. Cost was covered by registration fees and industrial sponsorship |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://portal.harwellxps.uk/2024-xps-summer-school |
| Description | XPS Guru Website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We maintain an online training site, XPS Guru, which provides videos and online resources to help train XPS users. This is accessed from around the world and is regularly updated with new content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.harwellxps.guru/ |