 X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is one of the best tools for studying the chemical modification of surfaces, and in particular the distribution and bonding of heteroatom dopants in carbon nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes. The most studied dopants are neighbors to carbon in the periodic table, nitrogen and boron. This article was authored by Thomas Susie, Thomas Pettler, and Paola Ayala.