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JoVE Science Education Materials Engineering
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • 00:08Vue d'ensemble
  • 01:01Principles of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • 03:01Loading a Sample for Study
  • 05:06Collecting an XPS Spectrum
  • 07:14Résultats
  • 07:48Applications
  • 08:52Summary

X-선 광전자 분광법

English

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Vue d'ensemble

출처: 파이살 알람기르, 재료 과학 및 공학 학교, 조지아 공과 대학, 애틀랜타, 조지아

X선 광전자 분광법(XPS)은 재료 내에 존재하는 원소의 원소 조성, 경험적 포뮬러, 화학 상태 및 전자 상태를 측정하는 기술이다. XPS 스펙트럼은 분석되는 물질의 상부 나노미터에서 탈출하는 운동 에너지 및 전자 수를 동시에 측정하는 동시에 X 선빔으로 물질을 조사하여 얻어집니다(전자의 전형적인 운동 에너지에 대한 상위 10nm 내). 신호 전자가 물질의 처음 몇 나노미터 내에서 주로 탈출한다는 사실때문에 XPS는 표면 분석 기술로 간주됩니다.

발견 및 XPS 뒤에 물리적 원리의 응용 프로그램 또는, 그것은 이전에 알려진 바와 같이, 화학 분석에 대한 전자 분광법 (ESCA), 물리학에서 두 개의 노벨상을 주도. 첫 번째는 1905 년에 광전 효과에 대한 그의 설명에 대한 알버트 아인슈타인에 1921 년에 수여되었다. 광전 효과는 XPS에서 신호가 생성되는 프로세스를 뒷받침합니다. 훨씬 후, 카이 Siegbahn은 이네스, 모즐리, 롤린슨과 로빈슨의 초기 작품 중 일부를 기반으로 ESCA를 개발하고, 1954년에 나Cl의 최초의 고에너지 해상도 XPS 스펙트럼을 기록했습니다. 화학 분석을 위한 ESCA/XPS의 힘을 추가로 시연하여 기술에 대한 관련 계측의 개발과 함께 1969년 최초의 상업용 단색 XPS 계측기와 1981년 노벨 물리학상으로 이어졌으며, 이는 분석 도구로서 기술을 개발하기 위한 그의 광범위한 노력을 인정했습니다.

Principles

Procédure

다음 절차는 특정 XPS 계측기 및 관련 소프트웨어에 적용되며 다른 계측기를 사용할 때 약간의 변형이 있을 수 있습니다. 샘플은 상업용 실리카(SiO2)유리 슬라이드에서 지원되는 그래핀의 단일 층에서 자란 Pt(3 원자층 두께)의 박막이다. 그래핀(탄소의 단일 층)은 Cu에서 재배한 다음 유리 기판으로 옮겨졌다. Pt 원자층은 전극 방법에 의해 증착되었다. 샘플을 로드하려면 먼?…

Résultats

Figure 1 shows a survey spectrum from the sample, clearly showing the Pt, Si, C and O emissions. In Figure 2, we see the high resolution scan of the Pt 4f7/2 and 4f5/2 peaks from the sample. The binding energies of each of the core level peaks can be compared to those found in databases such as the one maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (at https://srdata.nist.gov/xps/Default.aspx). The subtle shifts in binding energy relative to those of the reference compounds in the database can reveal the chemical state of each of the elements in your sample. The intensity ratio of the peaks will reveal the surface composition.

Figure 3
Figure 1: A survey spectrum from the sample, clearly showing the Pt, Si, C and O emissions. 

Figure 4
Figure 2: High resolution scan of the Pt 4f7/2 and 4f5/2 peaks from the sample.

Applications and Summary

XPS is a surface chemical analysis technique that is versatile in the range of samples it can be used to investigate. The technique provides quantification of chemical composition, chemical state and the occupied electronic structure of the atoms within a material.

XPS provides elemental the composition of the surface (within 1-10 nm usually), and can be used to determine the empirical formula of the surface compounds, the identity of elements that contaminate a surface, the chemical or electronic state of each element in the surface, the uniformity of composition across top surface and through the depth (by sequentially milling into the material and taking XPS data of the new exposed surface).

Routinely, XPS is used to analyze a wide range of materials, for example metal alloys, other inorganic compounds such as ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, catalysts, glasses, parts of plants biological materials such as cells, bones and many others.

Transcription

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, or XPS, is an non-destructive technique that can be used to measure the surface chemistry of a material. In XPS, an X-ray of known energy strikes an atom. A core shell electron absorbs the X-ray photon, gaining enough energy to leave its orbit.

Excess energy absorbed by the electron remains as its kinetic energy. By assembling a spectrum of these kinetic energies, the original binding energies of the electrons can be calculated and used to determine the chemical composition and state of the material.

This video will explain the principles of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and will demonstrate how to measure and interpret an XPS spectrum.

When a bound electron absorbs a photon of sufficient energy, it is ejected from its orbit. For a tightly bound core shell electron to be ejected, it must absorb a highly energetic X-ray photon. If the absorbed photon carries enough additional energy to exceed the threshold work function of the material, the electron may escape into the vacuum. These electrons are referred to as photoelectrons. Any remaining energy from the X-ray appears as the kinetic energy of the photoelectron.

For X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray sources of known energy are used. One common source is aluminum K alpha, which produces 1,486.7 electron volt X-rays. The X-ray’s energy and the work function of the surface are used in conjunction with the measured kinetic energy of the photoelectron to determine the electron’s original binding energy. The binding energy is equal to the original energy of the X-ray source, minus the work function energy of the surface and the remnant kinetic energy of the photoelectron. Once a spectrum has been collected, energy peaks can be compared with those of reference samples.

Subtle shifts in the energy of the measured peaks from reference peaks, as well as the relative heights between peaks of the measured spectrum, can be used to determine the elemental composition, chemical states, and electronic states of elements in the sample. XPS is useful to a depth of approximately 10 nanometers.

Now that you understand the principles behind XPS, you are now ready to measure a spectrum.

It is important to follow cleanliness rules for ultra-high vacuum systems when measuring an X-ray photoelectron spectrum. Polyethylene or powder-free nitrile gloves should be worn. And tweezers should be used to handle the sample slide. The sample should be stored in a glass container, which is then covered, so that they may be transported safely to the X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. Note that the following procedure applies to a specific XPS instrument and its associated software, and there may be some variations when other instruments are used.

In order to load the samples, first vent the load-lock chamber to access the sample holder. This should take several minutes. When the chamber has vented to atmospheric pressure, the door will spring open. Once the load-lock chamber opens, remove the sample holder from the transfer arm. To prevent contamination from previous analyses, clean the sample holder thoroughly by wiping it down with isopropyl alcohol. Be sure to clean the metal clip as well. Load each slide into the sample holder by pressing it under the metal clips.

Then return the sample holder to the load-lock chamber and place it on the transfer arm. When the sample holder is seated properly, close the chamber door. Pump down the load-lock chamber until the pressure registers in the 10 to the minus seven millibar range. This should take several minutes. Some samples, such as powders, highly porous materials, or those containing unevaporated solvents may take longer.

Finally, transfer the samples to the analysis chamber. When the chamber pressure is in the 10 to the minus eight millibar range, you can begin to collect a spectrum.

Now that the samples have been loaded and are ready to be analyzed, set the pass energy for the spectrometer. The pass energy is the energy with which all photoelectrons will enter the spectrometer. The pass energy sets a constant resolution for the entire spectrum. Setting a high pass energy results in a higher flux of photoelectrons and a greater signal to noise ratio for the experiment, but a worse resolution.

A spectrum taken with a low pass energy setting has a better resolution, but a lower signal to noise ratio. Now that the pass energy has been set, the next task is to collect a survey spectrum of our sample. The survey spectrum covers a broad range of energies in order to include all of the various types of electrons ejected from the surface. This spectrum will allow for the inspection of all photoelectron emission peaks prior to choosing a specific energy region to scan.

For this survey spectrum, the sample is a thin layer of platinum grown on a single layer of graphene, which is supported by a commercial silica glass slide. Peaks corresponding to platinum, silicon, carbon, and oxygen can be seen in the spectrum. The silicon and carbon peaks arise from the media supporting the sample. The oxygen peak is a result of water in the atmosphere adhering to the surface. The platinum peaks appear between 60 and 90 electron volts. These are the peaks we are interested in. Now that a survey spectrum has been collected, and a region of interest has been determined, we can collect a high resolution XPS spectrum.

Measuring a spectrum typically takes between 30 minutes and an hour for a set that includes a survey and a few different high resolution regions. When the spectrum is complete, the results are ready to be analyzed.

Now that a high resolution XPS spectrum has been produced, the peaks can be compared to the core level binding energy peaks found in reference databases.

Subtle shifts in binding energies relative to those of the reference compounds indicate the chemical state of each of the elements in the sample. The intensity ratio between peaks of the spectrum reveals the surface composition.

XPS is used routinely to analyze a wide range of materials such as metal alloys, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, and biological materials. XPS is an important tool for characterizing the surfaces of thin, semiconductor films used to produce microelectronics. Precisely determining the surface chemistry aids in the detection of contaminants, which can improve the manufacturing process.

In addition, XPS enables researchers to relate novel properties of a particular semiconductor to its chemistry, which is critical to the development of new materials. XPS can also be used to analyze biological samples such as fossilized bone. The chemical makeup of fossil remains carries a great deal of information. Using XPS, we can learn about the biology of evolution of the organisms, their environment, and the conditions under which they were fossilized.

You’ve just watched Jove’s introduction to X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. You should now understand the principles behind XPS, how to collect an XPS spectrum, and how to interpret the results to determine the composition and state of a sample material.

Thanks for watching.

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JoVE Science Education Database. JoVE Science Education. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. JoVE, Cambridge, MA, (2023).