The XPS Spectral Data-Base System is a collection of more than 20,000 digitized XPS spectra which were measured over a 10 year time period by a single scientist who has used a well characterized SSI XPS system equipped with an Al K~ monochromatic X-ray source. The current collection of spectra are stored in over 3,000 data-files which are systematically organized as a modular system of 80 directories with names that are easily understood by analysts, engineers, scientists, and teachers.
These directories can be arranged into different configurations that suit the various needs of XPS users. You can find our current system configurations and products listed on other pages. The spectral data-base systems which we are currently offering are called the Xl "SpecStarter", XI "SpecMaster Standard", Xl "SpecMaster Pro", and the Xl "SpecMaster V". We have also developed other data-base products to be used with the data processing soft ware produced by other companies and special research groups.
The spectral data contained within these data-base systems and libraries are designed to assist engineers, scientists, analysts, theoreticians, and teachers who use XPS on an everyday basis under practical working conditions. We believe that these spectra will help XPS users to analyse industrial problems, gather reference data, perform basic research, test theories, and teach others.
Our systems and spectra are designed to be practical tools for everyday use. We have not actually attempted to produce research grade spectra although, in fact, many of our spectra are research grade. Our main goal was to produce a spectral data-base system that can be used in a practical manner on a daily basis by many different XPS users with different needs and responsibilities.
By design, our directories, filenames, and samples have names and descriptions that directly identify the basic contents or the purpose of each directory or file. Most of these names are very familiar to XPS users, analysts, engineers, scientists. and teachers. We have deliberately avoided numerical filenames which only add an unnecessary level of complication. Our systems are designed to be practical, systematically organised, and easy to understand.
The complete collection of spectra, which occupies about 150 MB of memory in binary form or about 300 MB in ASCII form, can be supplied on various types of magnetic or optical recording media including for example internal or external hard disks (SCSI or lDE types), 100 MB Zip disks, 230 MB magneto-optical discs. 270 MB Syquest disks, floppy disks, and also CD-ROMs. To minimize manual search times and to satisfy the interests of various potential users, all individual directories are filled with only a modest number (l0 - l00) of data-files that can be re grouped as needed. Each data-file normally contains from 3-6 individual spectra, but may contain as many as 20 spectra. The entire collection is currently organized into two major groups of data directories, which are classified as a "Characterized Materials" Spectral Library and a "Practical Studies" Spectral Library.
The Characterized Materials (CM) library includes more than 8,000 spectra contained in about 55 modular data directories. It has 10 major directories with spectral data obtained from the XPS analyses of elements, naturally formed native oxides on pure elements, binary metal oxides, alloys, semiconductor materials. glasses, reference spectra for pure elements, minerals, and polymers. The CM spectral library also includes more than 40 other minor data directories which contain more than 500 multi spectra data files from a variety of important industrial materials.
The Practical Studies (PS) spectral library includes more than 30 different practical experimental studies, some of which are listed on other pages of this document. These practical studies demonstrate or reveal a number of trends, methods, and interesting phenomena that can help the user to choose useful experimental conditions and to avoid various experimental difficulties. And. to keep up with the needs of our users we are already working to update, expand, and improve the contents and features of the XPS Spectral Data- Base System, its Libraries, and its data processing capabilities.
