X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system and Ultra-high vacuum transfer system

The requirement is comprised of two pieces of equipment (1) a state-of-the-art x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) system with a particular focus on high lateral resolution and depth profiling; (2) an in-vacuum (UHV) transfer system between the new XPS and existing deposition facility, ideally with a small laboratory footprint. Bristol has an international reputation in fabrication and characterisation of actinide thin films (for studies based on the behaviour of current and advanced nuclear fuels). The FaRMS project will upgrade our growth and characterisation facilities to allow in-situ transfer of newly grown samples to the XPS system. This will be enabled by the UHV transfer system connecting both the sputtering chamber and the XPS system, as well as allowing the sputtering system and XPS system to work independently. Our long-term vision is that this instrument will enable thin layers (from a few nanometres to micron-scale films) of nuclear fuel materials to be fabricated and characterised with a range of techniques within FaRMS and the larger IAC infrastructure. FaRMS is a member of the National Nuclear User Facility, which aims to provide a service to the nuclear research sector – academic and industrial, with access funded up until March 2023, building a user-base to be financially sustainable thereafter.

The capital funding allocated for this equipment is a maximum of £550,000 (ex VAT) for both instruments, with an approximate breakdown of £400,000 for XPS and £150,000 for UHV. Tenders received significantly above this value may be discounted.