SOLIAS

Solid Liquid Analysis System

The SOLIAS (SOlid LIquid Analysis System) is especially designed for the investigation of solid-liquid interfaces and offers the possibility to deposit volatile materials on surfaces of interest and freeze them (LN2) to perform photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) or low energy electron diffraction (LEED) analysis. A dedicated electrochemical cell connected via a buffer chamber allows for electrochemical treatment of samples under inert atmosphere.

Selected Applications:
  • Investigation of solids (amorphous, crystalline), especially semiconductor and metals
  • Studying the interface and surface reactions after wet-chemical treatment in valence and core level regions
  • Varying the information depth by tuning the excitation energy
  • Measurement of the electronic properties of the surface (e.g. band line-up, valence band maximum, work function)
  • Electrochemistry in combination with PES, NEXAFS and LEED
Figure 1. SOLIAS

Figure 1. SOLIAS


Methods

XPS, LEED, NEXAFS

Remote access

not possible

Beamline data
Energy range 20 - 1900 eV
Energy resolution 32000 at 64 eV
Flux 1e9 - 1e10
Polarisation • horizontal
• circular
Focus size (hor. x vert.) 180 µm hor., vert. depends on exit slit
Phone 0049 30 8062 13429
More details PM3
Station data
Temperature range 90 - 1000 K
Pressure range Low 10-10 mbar up to 10-7 mbar in analysis chamber
Detector SPECS Phoibos 150 with DLD Detector (energy range 15-3000 eV)
SPECS ErLEED (three grids)
Manipulators Manufacturer: Vab
Δz=600 mm (motorized)
Δx=50 mm, Δy=50 mm (manually)
rotation ΔΦ=360° (manually)
azimuth Δϑ=180° (manually)
Sample holder compatibility Omicron Flag style sample holder (15 x 18 mm²)
sample size up to 10 x 10 mm²
Additional equipment • Temperature control of sample: 90 – 1000 K
• SPECS Ar-sputter gun
• Electrochemistry cell: Ar or N2 purged glass vessel attached to the SOLIAS via buffer chamber
Instrument responsible Prof. Dr. Jan Philipp Hofmann
Figure 2. Electrochemistry cell.

Figure 2. Electrochemistry cell.

Figure 3. SOLIAS endstation layout

Figure 3. SOLIAS endstation layout


The Surface Science Laboratory at Technical University of Darmstadt operates a dedicated UHV system for photoemission spectroscopy (PES) experiments with synchrotron radiation as excitation at the Berlin synchrotron facility (BESSY II). The so called SOLIAS system (solid liquid analysis system - Figure 1) is especially designed for the investigation of the solid-liquid interface and offers the possibility to deposit volatile materials on surfaces of interest and freeze them (LN2) in order to perform PES or low energy electron diffraction (LEED) analysis. Furthermore, an electrochemical treatment of samples under inert atmosphere is possible in a dedicated electrochemistry cell which is attached to the SOLIAS - Figure 2. To keep a high degree of flexibility, it is mounted on a moveable frame to allow the attachment to various beamlines - Figure 3. At BESSY II, mainly the U49-2/PGM-1 beamline with photon energies of 90 … 2000 eV is used. Soft X-ray and resonant photoemission spectroscopy experiments with varying excitation energy are also possible. In addition to the mentioned PES experiments, also X-ray absorption (XAS) experiments can be carried out. At the moment the SOLIAS system is mainly used for fundamental research on Li-batteries, electrocatalysts, semiconductors for water splitting and absorber materials for thin film photovoltaics.