What is the significance of valence band spectra obtained using XPS? What are the parameters we can discuss about it in a manuscript. How can we analyze the data?
The valence band can be a sort of a "fingerprint" region which is characteristic for a specific structure. Also, you can observe surface states which can be a verification for a proper preparation of an oriented crystal surface. If you know the work function and you're analyzing a semiconductor, you can determine the ionization energy from the valence band cutoff.
Please note, however, that the VB section of the XPS is not very well resolved and all the things I just mentioned can be done more precisely using UPS. I also allows you to determine the work function required to calculate the ionization energy.
There is not much use for the VB spectra obtained by XPS, since it is not a proper method due to its low resolution, cross sections, and surface specificity, needed for VB analysis. In some cases, you can use it as a secondary qualitative descriptor, provided you are comparing spectra in which VBs differ significantly. You can also sometimes use it for surface charge compensation if there is no better way (e.g. reliable C 1s reference peak) and if the measured sample has filled states near Fermi level.
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