SuperESCA

Welcome to the Fast XPS beamline!

High resolution core-level photoemission spectroscopy (HR-XPS) allows in depth investigations on the electronic and structural properties of a variety of samples that ranges between single crystals, thin films as well as new nanostructured materials.
SuperESCA (the first beamline operating at Elettra since 1994) brings the possibilities of this technique even further: by combining high resolution capabilities with the high flux of linearly polarised photons in the 90 to 1500 eV range, in the beamline end-station it is possible to obtain high resolution spectra also for low-density systems (such as thin films or supported nanoparticles) and follow in real-time their evolution, e.g. during functionalization processes or surface reactions.

Research Highlights | Publications

Patterning graphene with hydrogen clusters

Combined fast XPS and DFT calculations revealed the presence of two types of hydrogen adsorbate structures at the graphene/Ir(111) interface: graphane-like islands, giving rise to a periodic pattern, and dimers, which tend to destroy the periodicity. Distinctive growth rates and stability of the two types of structures allow obtaining well-defined patterns of clusters.

R. Balog et al., ACS Nano 7, 3823 (2013).

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Tailoring bimetallic alloy surface properties

Complex self-diffusion mechanisms determining key properties of binary alloys can be mostly defined by kinetic rather than energetic effects. In the Ni−Cu system, nanoscale control of these processes close to the surface yields tuning of the material functionality.

M. Rizzi et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134, 16827 (2012).

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Transfer-Free Electrical Insulation of Epitaxial Graphene

Stepwise intercalation of silicon and oxygen, allows the synthesis of a SiO₂ film below a graphene layer epitaxially grown on Ru(0001). We used photoemission spectroscopy to follow the reaction steps, which lead to a graphene layer electrically insulated from the substrate, as demonstrated by surface resistance data.
 
S. Lizzit et al., Nano Lett. 12, 4503 (2012).

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Rh nanoclusters on graphene template

Graphene-supported Rh nanocluster assemblies and their geometry dependent electronic structure have been studied  by combining high-energy resolution core level photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and density functional theory.



A.. Cavallin et al., ACSNano 6, 3034 (2012).

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H-bond mediated dissociation of ammonia on Si(001)

By combining DFT calculation and fast XPS measurements we demonstrate that the low temperature dissociation of NH₃ molecules chemisorbed on Si(001)-2x1 is driven by the continuous flux of ammonia molecules from the gas phase.

M. Satta et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 036102 (2012).

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Thermal reduction of graphene oxide

By combining time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations we identified a dual path mechanism in the thermal reduction of graphene oxide driven by the oxygen coverage: at low surface density, the O atoms adsorbed as epoxy groups evolve as O₂ leaving the C network unmodified. At higher coverage, the formation of other O-containing species opens competing reaction channels, which consume the C backbone.

R. Larciprete et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 133, 17315 (2011).
 

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Thermal expansion of graphene

We have studied the thermal expansion of graphene by using a combination of ab initio molecular dynamics calculations and high-resolution core level photoelectron spectroscopy measurements.



M. Pozzo et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 135501 (2011)
 

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Band dispersion in the deep 1s core level of graphene

The observed emission-angle-dependent binding energy modulation in graphene C 1s photoemission spectra indicates band formation even for deep core levels.





S. Lizzit et al., Nature Physics 6, 345 (2010).

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Proposal Submission

We invite users and collabrators to discuss their proposals with the beamline local contacts well in advance before the submission deadline. This is crucial for a careful assesment of the experiment feasibility and may lead to improvements in the proposed experimental plan. Our website provides a wealth of informaiton on experiment feasibilty and proposal submission. For more info, please vist the user info section.

Call for proposals

The deadline for proposal submission for beamtime allocation from July 1st to December 31st, 2014 will be March 17th, 2014 at 24:00 (MET).