International XPS Instrument Registry (IXIR)
for XPS Instrument Owners and Data Users

Many thousands of XPS BEs and Chemical State (Species) Assignments are produced by thousands of different XPS scientists around the world, who are using thousands of different XPS instruments around our world. These scientists are very responsible, and are working hard to make the world a better place through chemistry.

To improve the validity, accuracy, and reliability of those thousands of BEs and Chemical State (Species) Assignments published in hundreds of advanced, international scientific journals by those scientists, the XPS Library is building the “International XPS Instrument Registry“. This Registry is an on-line database filled with Screen-Captured (screen-grabs) Images that prove the validity, accuracy, and reliability of the BEs produced by thousands of responsible scientists and their XPS instruments.

To achieve this goal The XPS Library will request International XPS instrument owners or the responsible scientists (engineers) around the world to collect Screen-Capture Images (via Print Screen, Snag-It, Snippet, or other software) of the Just-Measured High Energy Resolution Validation Spectra from just ion-etched “Calibration Metals”.

These high energy resolution validation spectra are the normal spectra that used to “check” if instrument energy scale needs to be adjusted slightly to produce the desired Calibration BEs. These validation spectra are measured from freshly ion-etched calibration metals, such Copper (Cu) and Gold (Au) with the true “date-of-measurement” shown in the screen-capture. The desired Calibration BEs are not the Measured BEs. Desired Calibration BEs are the those Calibration BEs recommend by ISO, ASTM, DIN, JIS, BSI etc.

These Just-Measured high energy resolution validation spectra are used to Check the energy scale of the instrument, that instrument owners measure weekly or monthly to be sure that their XPS instrument’s BE scale is as reliable and accurate as possible, and that their XPS Research Spectra give reliable, valid, and accurate BEs to be published in advanced International Scientific Journals and Databanks.

To set up this system, the XPS Library will ask each instrument owner to provide the name of the instrument maker, the model of the instrument, and most importantly the serial number of the instrument. The serial number is needed because some XPS instruments are sold from one company to another, or from one university to another.

The weekly or monthly collected screen-captures (screen-grabs) will be stored in an on-line database which will be available at no cost to all registered members. All useful BE information will be included in numerical form in the on-line database.

The goal of this on-line database is to provide all scientists, who use XPS spectra and data, with BEs and Chemical State Assignments that are as reliable, valid, and as accurate as possible.

This on-line database, called the International XPS Instrument Registry (IXIR), will ensure the reliability, validity, and accuracy of the thousands of XPS BEs and their Chemical State Assignments that are published in International Scientific Journals and Databanks.

The IXIR on-line database of screen-captured “Measurement-Validation Spectra” from XPS instruments
around our World is Absolutely Vital to the future of Material Science,
and all the scientists, engineers, managers and CEOs that use XPS results!

Essential Screen Captures (screen grabs) to be included in the IXIR on-line database.

Screen Capture of the just measured Cu 2p3 chemical state spectrum with its peak-fit and BE values
Screen Capture of the just measured Cu 3s chemical state spectrum with its peak-fit and BE values
Screen Capture of the just measured Au 4f chemical state spectrum with its peak-fit and BE values

Information to be stored in the on-line “International XPS Registry” will include:

Name of instrument maker
Instrument serial number
Name of instrument owner
Name of person responsible to maintain the XPS instrument
Calibration BEs currently being used
Reference BE for Hydrocarbon C (1s) signal used to charge reference non-conducting samples
Date that Calibration BEs were last checked – shown in Screen Grab (manually recorded values not accepted)