The University of Massachusetts Lowell is equipped with a wealth of state-of-the-art surface science equipment. Our instrumentation includes two atomic force microscopes (AFMs), a secondary ion and secondary neutral mass spectrometer (SIMS and SNMS), and two ESCA photoelectron spectrometers. In addition to x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), our most recently acquired ESCA is capable of ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). These instruments give the Center for Advanced Materials and the Chemistry Department world-class surface analytical capabilities to characterize materials of technological importance. Below are some examples of the surface equipment in the Whitten Research group.
VG SIMS/SNMS quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with duo-plasmatron and gallium ion sputter sources.
VG EscaLab photoelectron spectrometer equipped with a Mg x-ray source.
One of our VG EscaLab photoelectron spectrometers is equipped with an x-ray monochromator and dual anode x-ray sources, along with an ultraviolet He lamp for performing ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy. This instrument is also capable of Auger electron spectroscopy and has computer-controlled sample positioning. UMass Lowell has one of the best equipped surface science facilities in the United States.