ESFOSCAN

ESFOSCAN is an advanced equipment based on the PHI VersaProbe 4 Scanning XPS Microprobe model of Physical Electronics (ULVAC-PHI). It allows XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), UPS (Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy) and LEIPS (Low-Energy Inverse Photoemission Spectroscopy) measurements. It is the first of its kind in Spain and one of the first in Europe and the world.

Features of the equipment

This equipment is equipped with an X-ray probe that can microfocus and scan the sample, combining highly resolved measurements in area that includes secondary electron images, with nanoscale measurements in the depth axis. This process is carried out with great measurement speed thanks to the most advanced data acquisition technologies on the market (high-transmission analyzer input lenses).

In addition to this groundbreaking system, the equipment features a set of characteristics that enhance its versatility compared to the previous equipment, positioning ESFOSCAN as the European reference equipment in the field of physicochemical analysis of surfaces, interfaces, and multilayer structures. Some notable features include: 3 different decapage cannons (monatomic argon, C60 fullerene molecules and argon clusters) to be able to make depth profiles in all types of samples (organic, inorganic or mixed) without chemical damage and thus be able to obtain short-range chemical environment data at different depths of the material:

3 different sputtering sources (monatomic argon, C60 fullerene molecules, and argon clusters) to perform depth profiling on all types of samples (organic, inorganic, or mixed) without chemical damage, thus obtaining short-range chemical environment data at different depths of the material.
Dual neutralization (positive and negative charges) to study insulating materials that charge differently at various depths
Zalar compucentric rotation and tilt for optimizing interface measurements.
Low-angle acceptance modes and specific analysis software for analyzing ultra-thin layer thicknesses on the nanometer scale.
Platinum heating and cooling stage (from -120°C to 500°C) and 4 electrical contacts to perform in-situ experiments with temperature and voltage variations during measurements.

Applications of technology

ESFOSCAN allows for qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of solid surface samples at the nanoscale (analyzing a depth of only 5 nm) and at the micrometer scale in terms of lateral resolution (measurement area). During analysis, the equipment can also determine the concentration of all chemical elements, except H and He, with detection limits of 0.1% atomic elemental, while evaluating the short-range chemical environment (type of chemical bonding) of these elements. Depth chemical profiles can also be performed to study interfaces and multilayer structures.

Furthermore, combining UPS and LEIPS techniques at the same point of a sample without moving it provides key parameters to understand the band structure of these surfaces and interfaces (such as measurements of the band gap: HOMO, LUMO, electron affinity, ionization energy, bandgap, and work function).

All of this is essential in fields such as materials science and technology, chemical science and technology, physical sciences, nanotechnology, and photonics. The study possibilities offered by all the features of ESFOSCAN will contribute to advancing frontier research in multiple fields, such as metallic alloys, ceramics, polymers and plastics, coatings, dental implants, composite materials, semiconductors, inorganic and organic compounds, identification of surface contaminants, interfacial chemistry, catalysis, energy, drug absorption, microelectronic devices, sensors, corrosion, surface functionalization, thin films, metallurgy, nanostructured materials, or art studies.

Funding

This equipment has been fully funded by European funds in the 2021 call for scientific-technical equipment acquisition from the Next Generation EU Fund, Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan / EQC2021-006905-P Project, with a total amount of 1.251.100 €.

Location

The equipment is installed in the Electron Microscopy and Related Techniques Unit in the CCiTUB building