Calibrations and checks of the binding-energy scales of X-ray photoelectron spectrometers

Abstract

A recent paper in this journal [B. V. Crist, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom. (in press)] describes current and historical calibration problems with core-electron binding energies (BEs) measured by X-ray photoelectron spectrometers and how these problems affect BE data in databases. Although Crist provides useful information about the variability of reported BE values, his article is incomplete or incorrect in some historical and other details. The present article corrects and extends information in the Crist paper and provides additional information on how calibrations and checks of the BE scale should be made.