Method · XPS
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the Netherlands
Elemental composition and chemical state of the near-surface region, optionally with sputter depth profiling. What it answers, what it cannot establish on its own, what a laboratory will ask, and how many Dutch facilities publish it.
What it answers
- Which elements are on the surface, and in which chemical state — for example metal or oxide?
- Is a thin residue or contamination layer present, and what is it made of?
- Did cleaning, plasma treatment or a coating step change the outer few nanometres?
What it cannot establish alone
Before you contact a laboratory
What a laboratory will ask.
A laboratory can say whether it can help only when these are known. Unknowns are fine; say so.
A question a laboratory can answer
Our anodised aluminium parts show dark stains after a new cleaning step. We can send one stained and one clean part, both 10 × 10 mm. Is the stain organic residue or a change in the oxide? Sputter depth profiling is allowed.
Potential Dutch facilities
10 facilities publish XPS capability in Enschede, Eindhoven, Amsterdam, Delft, Groningen and Noordwijk.
Leads are based on published capabilities; current suitability and availability must be confirmed with the laboratory.
Describe your sample and question. The first answer is free and needs no account; laboratory names are shown in a free workspace.
Often combined with
- Time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometryHigh-sensitivity surface and depth-profile mass spectrometry with time-of-flight analysis.
Problems where it helps
- Coating delamination: finding the causeHow to investigate a coating that lifts, blisters or peels: which measurements show where the failure runs and why, and what to prepare.
- Surface contamination: identifying what is thereWhich surface-sensitive measurements identify a residue, oxide or trace contaminant, what each cannot see, and what to prepare.
- Coating failure analysis: from symptom to causeHow to analyse a coating that cracks, discolours, corrodes or wears: compare failed and intact parts and test the likely explanations.