LaserPEEM Offline Facility (I06-2)

The LaserPEEM/LEEM offline facility is a multidisciplinary nanoscience imaging facility housing a second PhotoEmission Electron Microscope (PEEM) equipped for Low-Energy Electron Microscopy (LEEM), micro focused-Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (μ-LEED) and Thresold PhotoEmission Electron Microscopy.

Jointly funded by Diamond and EPSRC strategic equipment grant, the offline facility combines PEEM/LEEM with a continuous wave (CW) deep-UV laser source (wavelength 266 nm) providing high spatial resolution with probing depths ranging from less than a nanometre to tens of nanometres. The LaserPEEM/LEEM instrument provides unique opportunities to connect structure to function through detailed nanoscale imaging and real-time monitoring of, for example, catalytic chemistry on and around nanoparticles, ferroic domain walls manipulation, edge state structural modifications in 2D materials, battery electrode degradation, photovoltaic cell activity, etc.

The facility hosts state-of-the-art sample preparation capabilities and allows UHV sample transfer from external equipment from across the UK and beyond. The facility is a hub for developing sample environments, prepare new samples and ensure their suitablility for further measurements on I06 (XPEEM) or I06-1 (Branchline). In addition, it is also used to train researchers on the use of electron and photoelectron spectromicroscopies (PEEM, LEEM, μ-LEED).

Fig. 1: LaserPEEM/LEEM Offline Facility (August 2023).

For further information about the facility contact Sarnjeet Dhesi or Brice Sarpi. Access to the facility is granted via peer-reviewed proposals submitted during Diamond's standard call for proposals. Users are strongly encouraged to discuss their experiment with the beamline staff prior to the proposal submission.