Electron spectroscopy of solids and surfaces (particularly the use of Auger-electron spectroscopy (AES), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electron energy-loss spectroscopy for surface analysis and for investigations of electronic properties); inelastic- and elastic-electron scattering in solids (particularly calculations of electron inelastic mean free paths and analyses of the effects of elastic-electron scattering in AES and XPS); surface science (particularly investigations of surface electronic structure); surface analysis (particularly improvement in the accuracy of surface analyses by AES and XPS); databases for surface analysis (particularly for surface analyses by AES and XPS); and optical properties of solids.
Author or co-author of over 200 papers published in refereed journals, contributor (as chapter author or editor) to ten books, and co-author of five NIST databases. A 1974 review article was selected in 1990 as a "Citation Classic" by the publisher of Current Contents: Physical, Chemical & Earth Sciences. Many of his research papers and review articles are highly cited.
Honors and Awards
1980 Bronze Medal, U.S. Department of Commerce
1983 Silver Medal, U.S. Department of Commerce
1986 Gold Medal, U.S. Department of Commerce
1988 Award of Merit, American Society for Testing and Materials
1992 Riviere Prize, UK ESCA Users Group
1993 Creation of the "Cedric Powell Award" by ASTM Committee E-42 on Surface Analysis to recognize outstanding contributions to the national and international establishment of standards for surface analysis
1994 Fellow, American Vacuum Society
1995 Creation of the "Powell Prize" by the Surface Analysis Society of Japan to recognize the best poster paper at the annual meeting of this society
1999 Measurement Service Award, U.S. Department of Commerce
2001 Albert Nerken Award, American Vacuum Society
2007 Technology Prize, International Union of Vacuum Science, Technique, and Applications