In this topical review we catagorise all ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy publications that have appeared between the 1970s and the end of 2018 according to their scientific field. We find that catalysis, surface science and materials science are predominant, while, for example, electrocatalysis and thin film growth are emerging. All catalysis publications that we could identify are cited, and selected case stories with increasing complexity in terms of surface structure or chemical reaction are discussed. For thin film growth we discuss recent examples from chemical vapour deposition and atomic layer deposition. Finally, we also discuss current frontiers of ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy research, indicating some directions of future development of the field.
Keywords: ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; atomic layer deposition; catalysis; chemical vapour deposition; operando; synchrotron radiation.
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