The N 1s core binding energies of spin-coated poly(vinylpyridine) (PVPy), quaternized PVPy, and UV-irradiated PVPy were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the depth profiles were determined using Ar þ beam etching. In typical N 1s spectra, cationic nitrogen atoms appeared at a binding energy 2 -3 eV higher than that of neutral pyridine (Py). Changes in alkylpyridiniums in N 1s and bromide in Br 3p were determined according to etching cycles. In our PVPy cases, two types of nitrogen appeared at a region of high energy compared with that of neutral Py, and the differences in the binding energies between those states and neutral Py were all less than 2 eV. These nitrogens can be assigned to hydrogen-bonded Py and a complex formed among Py rings. Neutral Py, the complex Py, and hydrogen-bonded Py are very close together, and they were located at 399.0, 399.7, and 400.6 eV, respectively. Traces of ionic species were observed only in IR spectra.