Description and operation characteristics of SPECS EnviroESCA

This paper provides the characteristics and operating modes of the SPECS EnviroESCA in sufficient detail that they can be referenced by authors using such instruments and to provide readers with a level of instrumental detail often lacking in research papers. The EnviroESCA is a commercial version of a laboratory near ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy instrument designed to allow samples to be analyzed in gaseous and even liquid environments at higher pressures than are possible for typical XPS instruments. An instrument overview including a description of components and geometries and a table of relevant parameters are provided. Details related to charge compensation, instrument control and analysis software, and different modes of operation are included. Data from a silver sample provide examples of instrument performance and the effect of analyst-controlled variables such as pass energy and gas pressure on the type of data that can be collected.