Synchrotron-radiation-based soft X-ray electron spectroscopy applied to structural and chemical characterization of isolated species, from molecules to nanoparticles.

With its extended tunability from the IR to hard X-rays and the exceptional spectral brightness offered by the 3rd generation storage rings, synchrotron radiation (SR) is an invaluable investigation tool. Major methodological developments are now available, and are applied to simple, isolated atoms and molecules (which can be often modeled ab initio) and are then extended to the investigation of more and more complex species, up to soft and hard condensed matter. The present article highlights, with a few examples, the most recent achievements in SR-based soft X-ray electron spectroscopy applied to the structural characterization of isolated species of increasing complexity, from molecules and clusters to nanoparticles. Special attention is devoted to very high resolution studies of single molecules revealing electron diffraction and interference effects, as well as detailed information about their potential energy surfaces. These achievements are only possible based on the new opportunities offered by the most advanced SR facilities.