Advanced Surface and Interface Characterisation Partner for Horizon Europe Clusters 4 & 5

HarwellXPS – Advanced Surface and Interface Characterisation for Horizon Europe Consortia

HarwellXPS is the UK's EPSRC National Research Facility for X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, providing specialist materials characterisation and scientific expertise to academic institutions, industrial organisations and international research consortia.

Delivered through University College London (UCL), Cardiff University, the University of Manchester and Aberystwyth University, HarwellXPS combines advanced analytical infrastructure with experienced scientists to investigate complex materials, surfaces and interfaces.

We are actively seeking opportunities to join Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) and Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility) consortia as a funded technical partner, delivering dedicated characterisation tasks and analytical work packages.

Our Analytical Expertise

• X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS): Quantitative surface composition, oxidation states, chemical bonding, contamination and interface chemistry.

• Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (HAXPES): Buried interfaces, thin films, coatings and multilayer structures.

• Cryogenic XPS (cryoXPS): Temperature-sensitive materials, reactive interfaces and degradation products.

• Near-Ambient Pressure XPS (NAP-XPS): Surface chemistry under controlled gas environments.

• Ion Scattering Spectroscopy (ISS): Outermost atomic-layer composition and surface segregation.

• Reflection Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (REELS): Electronic properties, energy losses and complementary surface information.

• Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS): Valence electronic structure and work-function measurements.

• X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS): XANES and EXAFS for oxidation states and local atomic structure.

We provide experimental design, advanced data analysis, quantitative interpretation, comparative studies and technical reporting.

Application Areas – Horizon Europe Clusters 4 & 5

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Functional coatings, thin films, polymers, composites, additive manufacturing, surface treatments, corrosion, contamination and materials failure.

Batteries and Energy Storage
Electrode materials, solid-electrolyte interphases, chemical degradation, interfacial reactions, recycling and lifetime assessment.

Hydrogen, Catalysis and Clean Energy
Catalyst surfaces, active chemical states, fuel cells, electrolysers, hydrogen production, energy conversion and industrial decarbonisation.

Semiconductors and Electronic Materials
Thin-film interfaces, semiconductor surface chemistry, functional materials, surface treatments, electronic structure and device degradation.

Circular Economy and Sustainable Materials
Materials recycling, resource recovery, waste valorisation, chemical ageing, environmental exposure and degradation mechanisms.

What We Offer Horizon Europe Consortia

HarwellXPS can contribute as a specialist analytical partner to Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), supporting projects from early materials development through to industrial technology validation.

Our contributions can include:

• Designing characterisation strategies and measurement protocols across multiple project partners.

• Delivering coordinated analytical campaigns throughout the project lifecycle.

• Investigating chemical states, interfaces, degradation mechanisms and materials performance.

• Comparing materials produced using different manufacturing or processing routes.

• Supporting technology optimisation, validation and failure investigations.

• Producing scientific reports, datasets and technical deliverables aligned with project milestones.

• Contributing to consortium meetings, technical discussions and dissemination activities.

Why Collaborate with HarwellXPS?

Our national partnership provides access to specialist instrumentation and scientific expertise across four UK universities. We combine advanced surface analysis with complementary characterisation techniques and extensive experience supporting multidisciplinary materials research.

We are particularly interested in collaborations where surface and interface chemistry can help resolve industrial challenges, validate emerging technologies or accelerate materials innovation.

Seeking Horizon Europe 2027 Partnerships

We welcome enquiries from consortium coordinators, universities, research and technology organisations, Catapults, SMEs and industrial partners developing proposals for Horizon Europe Cluster 4 and Cluster 5 calls.

Whether you require a dedicated characterisation work package, specialist analytical expertise or ongoing materials investigation across multiple partners, HarwellXPS would be pleased to discuss potential contributions.