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.

Publications

10 25 50

 
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/