Core level photoelectron spectroscopy for polymer and catalyst characterisation

Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis or ESCA is a powerful tool for the characterisation of chemical species at surfaces. ESCA can therefore pl ay a major role in the study of heterogeneous catalysts and catalytic proce sses. In the polymer field, more recently an increase in sensitivity combin ed with high spectral resolution has revealed details on the chemical envir onment around the probed atom. Information on nearest and next-nearest neig hbours, sometimes even including conformational information, has become acc essible. In catalysis the valence state of the metal centre can be estimate d, and charge-binding energy relations can be used to establish charge-(cat alytic) performance relations.