XPS characterisation of in situ treated lanthanum oxide and hydroxide using tailored charge referencing and peak fitting procedures

► Gold particles deposited in vacuum as energy reference for insulating samples in XPS. ► Separation of La 3d and MNN peaks in XP spectra acquired with Al Kα radiation. ► We describe the spectral differences between lanthanum oxide and lanthanum hydroxide. ► A doublet in O 1s of La2O3 is ascribed to two distinct oxygen sites in the crystal.