Specific Process Knowledge/Characterization/XPS/Processing
Feedback to this page: click here
Installation of XPS software
You will need some kind of dedicated software to analyze and interpret the XPS spectra. The internet has many such software packages among which are:
- Avantage: A software platform developed by Thermofisher for acquisition and processing of XPS spectra on their tools. Since both the XPS K-Alpha and the XPS Nexsa have been manufactured by Thermofisher, Avantage is the native software used on these instruments and no data export or conversion will be necessary. DTU has an academic license that covers all DTU projects for which Avantage can be freely downloaded and licensed, see below. For other academia and commercial users another solution has been established, see also below.
- CasaXPS: A commercial XPS data analysis platform that is much more sophiscated compared to Avantage. DTU has an academic license: CasaXPS can be downloaded at http://www.casaxps.com/ or by using the links below.
Due to the licensing of the software packages, your access to them will depend on whether you are a DTU employee/student (with a valid *@dtu.dk email address) or an external user/other academia.
Users from DTU
Avantage
Download and install:
To install the last version of Avantage (Thermofisher seems to have stopped at version 5.9925; we did not yet transition to version 6.x), please click the top link below. This will open a shared folder on files.dtu.dk which is an internal DTU file service that works like Dropbox; log on using your DTU initials and password.
- https://files.dtu.dk/a/C2Qk3k7kJNwZZCTa/c424f19b-58a5-4a80-b863-6813be405ff2?l
- The internet download link http://www.surfsciftp.co.uk/avant5/download.php has been offline in some periods.
License:
Unzip the file and run the install file. At some point a nine digit computer number (for your installation) will be given and you will be prompted for a processing licence. To get a license, write an email to Thermo msd.support.nordic@thermofisher.com requesting a standard processing license. You will also have to inform for which system the license has to be used:
- XPS K-Alpha: System ID KA1002, click here.
- XPS Nexsa: Serial number NXA9953214, click here
Usually you will have an answer within a day or two. Use the license to activate Avantage and you are ready to analyze your data.
CasaXPS
Download and install:
Download CasaXPS version 2.3.22PR1.0 from files.dtu.dk (see explanation on files.dtu.dk above) on
Unzip the file and you will generate a folder called Casa2325rev1-0P that contains the executable file CasaXPS.exe. The file is not an install file but the CasaXPS application itself. Therefore
- Make sure to copy the Casa2325rev1-0P folder to an appropriate location from which the application can be launched safely.
- Always make sure to run the CasaXPS.exe from this location. Do not make copies of the executable file, instead make desktop shortcuts to the executable.
License:
DTU has an academic license that covers everybody with a DTU email address. If you do not already have it, you can contact one of the following:
- DTU Nanolab: Jonas Michael-Lindhard:click here
- DTU Energy responsible
In CasaXPS open the 'About CasaXPS' and enter user name and license.
For non-DTU academia and commercial users
Getting a non-DTU license for Avantage is unreasonably expensive so it is not realistic to request external users to acquire one. We have therefore established another solution that will provide access to the following software packages to non-DTU afiliated users of the XPS tools:
- Avantage
- CasaXPS
- OMNIC (The software package required for analysing the Raman spectra recorded on the XPS Nexsa)
A virtual PC with Avantage and CasaXPS installed that only users on a specific list can log on to for the purpose of analysing XPS data. What to do:
- Write to Jonas (jmli@dtu.dk or click here) requesting to be added to the list.
- You need a VPN connection to DTU. To get that log on to https://vpn.ait.dtu.dk/ and download/install the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client (if not already done).
- Log on with win\xxxx where xxxx is your DTU initials.
- Using the Windows Remote Desktop Connection, log on to nlab-xps-avanta with the same login.
XPS Data processing
Avantage: How to analyze data
In this section, all steps (import data, add peaks and backgrounds etc.) of the analysis are described.
XPS Simplified
The web page XPS Simplified is a ThermoScientific page where you can find a lot of information about the techniques, the hardware, data analysis etc.
XPS Knowledge View
A knowledge database providing specific information on every element is included in the software. It provides very useful information about the XPS characteristics of every detectable element and it may even be a very good idea to consult it before the data is acquired. Click HERE to get information on how to access XPS Knowledge View in Avantage.
Basic instructions
Click HERE to have a complete walk-through of an example. This includes
- Open data file
- Open and analyze survey spectrum
- Analyze high resolution spectra of the individual spectra:
- Add background
- Add peaks
- Quantify
- Analyze depth profiles
Guidelines on data processing
Click HERE to see some general guidelines on data processing in Avantage.