Energy calibration of X-ray photoelectron spectrometers. Part III: Location of the zero point on the binding-energy scale

Abstract

Calibration of the binding energy scale in x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) requires location of the zero point. This zero point has previously been identified with the inflection point in the Fermi‐edge region of a valence‐band photoemission spectrum of nickel. Comparison of photoemission spectra of nickel and silver measured with monochromated x‐rays shows that the inflection points near the Fermi edge differ by 45±5 meV (where the stated uncertainty indicates the standard uncertainty) at an instrumental energy resolution of 0.30 eV. This difference is due to differences in the valence‐band densities of states (DOS) of the two metals. Simulations of the Ni photoemission spectrum have been performed based on the DOS calculated by Eckhardt and Fritsche, and the simulated spectrum agrees well with the measured spectrum in the near‐edge region. Additional simulations of the Ni photoemission spectrum have been carried out with both monochromated Al x‐rays and unmonochromated Mg and Al characteristic x‐rays to determine how the Ni near‐edge inflection point varies with the energy resolution of the electron energy analyzer in XPS. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on 1-peso and 2-pesos of the Argentine Republic

“…However, by increasing the resolution of the commercial XPS system, it was revealed that C 1s binding energy, for example, could be related to the thickness of the hydrocarbon layer [21]. Therefore other reference points such as the Au 4f tran-sition line [22,23] are suggested to be used to calibrate the binding energy.…”

Growth and trends in Auger-electron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface analysis

“…These disagreements indicated that, although the repeatability of BE or KE measurement in individual laboratories was satisfactory ͑typically about 0.1 eV͒, reproducibility among the participating laboratories was not. [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] This work culminated in the adoption of formal procedures by the International Organization for Standardization ͑ISO͒ and the American Society for Testing and Materials ͑ASTM͒, now known as ASTM International, for the calibration of the BE scales of XPS instruments 45,46 and of the KE scales of AES instruments. Other factors ͑e.g., inadequate specimen alignment in the AES measurements͒ also contributed to the scatter.…”

Long time stability of the energy scale calibration of a Quantum 2000

“…The aim of the energy scale calibration of an XPS instrument is to keep the energy deviation ΔE between the true peak energy and the measured peak energy within predefined limits and to guarantee the long time stability of the energy scale calibration. Thanks to the efforts of many people [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] the reference energies of certain Au, Ag and Cu peaks are defined and procedures of energy scale calibration are elaborated. Based on these results, as well the reference values for the peak positions on the binding energy scale for the Au4f7/2, Ag3d5/2, Cu L3VV and Cu2p3/2 peak, Preprint of the article: 'U.…”