Dynamics of Pd Subsurface Hydride Formation and Their Impact on the Selectivity Control for Selective Butadiene Hydrogenation Reaction

Structure-sensitive catalyzed reactions can be influenced by a number of parameters. So far, it has been established that the formation of Pd-C species is responsible for the behavior of Pd nanoparticles employed as catalysts in a butadiene partial hydrogenation reaction. In this study, we introduce some experimental evidence indicating that subsurface Pd hydride species are governing the reactivity of this reaction. In particular, we detect that the extent of formation/decomposition of PdHx species is very sensitive to the Pd nanoparticle aggregate dimensions, and this finally controls the selectivity in this process. The main and direct methodology applied to determine this reaction mechanism step is time-resolved high-energy X-ray diffraction (HEXRD).

The Extremely Brilliant Source storage ring of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS) is the experimental implementation of the novel Hybrid Multi Bend Achromat (HMBA) storage ring magnetic lattice concept, which has been realised at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. We present its successful commissioning and first operation. We highlight the strengths of the HMBA design and compare them to the previous designs, on which most operational synchrotron X-ray sources are based. We report on the EBS storage ring's significantly improved horizontal electron beam emittance and other key beam parameters. EBS extends the reach of synchrotron X-ray science confirming the HMBA concept for future facility upgrades and new constructions.

Rare earth element identification and quantification in millimetre-sized Ryugu rock fragments from the Hayabusa2 space mission

Millimetre-sized primordial rock fragments originating from asteroid Ryugu were investigated using high energy X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, providing 2D and 3D elemental distribution and quantitative composition information on the microscopic level. Samples were collected in two phases from two sites on asteroid Ryugu and safely returned to Earth by JAXA's asteroid explorer Hayabusa2, during which time the collected material was stored and maintained free from terrestrial influences, including exposure to Earth's atmosphere. Several grains of interest were identified and further characterised to obtain quantitative information on the rare earth element (REE) content within said grains, following a reference-based and computed-tomography-assisted fundamental parameters quantification approach. Several orders of magnitude REE enrichments compared to the mean CI chondrite composition were found within grains that could be identified as apatite phase. Small enrichment of LREE was found for dolomite grains and slight enrichment or depletion for the general matrices within the Ryugu rock fragments A0055 and C0076, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40623-022-01705-3.

Orientational mapping of minerals in Pierre shale using X-ray diffraction tensor tomography

Shales have a complex mineralogy with structural features spanning several length scales, making them notoriously difficult to fully understand. Conventional attenuation-based X-ray computed tomography (CT) measures density differences, which, owing to the heterogeneity and sub-resolution features in shales, makes reliable interpretation of shale images a challenging task. CT based on X-ray diffraction (XRD-CT), rather than intensity attenuation, is becoming a well established technique for non-destructive 3D imaging, and is especially suited for heterogeneous and hierarchical materials. XRD patterns contain information about the mineral crystal structure, and crucially also crystallite orientation. Here, we report on the use of orientational imaging using XRD-CT to study crystallite-orientation distributions in a sample of Pierre shale. Diffraction-contrast CT data for a shale sample measured with its bedding-plane normal aligned parallel to a single tomographic axis perpendicular to the incoming X-ray beam are discussed, and the spatial density and orientation distribution of clay minerals in the sample are described. Finally, the scattering properties of highly attenuating inclusions in the shale bulk are studied, which are identified to contain pyrite and clinochlore. A path forward is then outlined for systematically improving the structural description of shales.

Quantifying the hydroxyapatite orientation near the ossification front in a piglet femoral condyle using X-ray diffraction tensor tomography

While a detailed knowledge of the hierarchical structure and morphology of the extracellular matrix is considered crucial for understanding the physiological and mechanical properties of bone and cartilage, the orientation of collagen fibres and carbonated hydroxyapatite (HA) crystallites remains a debated topic. Conventional microscopy techniques for orientational imaging require destructive sample sectioning, which both precludes further studies of the intact sample and potentially changes the microstructure. In this work, we use X-ray diffraction tensor tomography to image non-destructively in 3D the HA orientation in a medial femoral condyle of a piglet. By exploiting the anisotropic HA diffraction signal, 3D maps showing systematic local variations of the HA crystallite orientation in the growing subchondral bone and in the adjacent mineralized growth cartilage are obtained. Orientation maps of HA crystallites over a large field of view (~ 3 × 3 × 3 mm³) close to the ossification (bone-growth) front are compared with high-resolution X-ray propagation phase-contrast computed tomography images. The HA crystallites are found to predominantly orient with their crystallite c-axis directed towards the ossification front. Distinct patterns of HA preferred orientation are found in the vicinity of cartilage canals protruding from the subchondral bone. The demonstrated ability of retrieving 3D orientation maps of bone-cartilage structures is expected to give a better understanding of the physiological properties of bones, including their propensity for bone-cartilage diseases.

Exploring cycling induced crystallographic change in NMC with X-ray diffraction computed tomography

This study presents the application of X-ray diffraction computed tomography for the first time to analyze the crystal dimensions of LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 electrodes cycled to 4.2 and 4.7 V in full cells with graphite as negative electrodes at 1 μm spatial resolution to determine the change in unit cell dimensions as a result of electrochemical cycling. The nature of the technique permits the spatial localization of the diffraction information in 3D and mapping of heterogeneities from the electrode to the particle level. An overall decrease of 0.4% and 0.6% was observed for the unit cell volume after 100 cycles for the electrodes cycled to 4.2 and 4.7 V. Additionally, focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope cross-sections indicate extensive particle cracking as a function of upper cut-off voltage, further confirming that severe cycling stresses exacerbate degradation. Finally, the technique facilitates the detection of parts of the electrode that have inhomogeneous lattice parameters that deviate from the bulk of the sample, further highlighting the effectiveness of the technique as a diagnostic tool, bridging the gap between crystal structure and electrochemical performance.

ID15A at the ESRF - a beamline for high speed operando X-ray diffraction, diffraction tomography and total scattering

ID15A is a newly refurbished beamline at the ESRF devoted to operando and time-resolved diffraction and imaging, total scattering and diffraction computed tomography. The beamline is optimized for rapid alternation between the different techniques during a single operando experiment in order to collect complementary data on working systems. The high available energy (up to 120 keV) means that even bulky and highly absorbing systems may be studied. The beamline is equipped with optimized focusing optics and a photon-counting CdTe pixel detector, allowing for both unprecedented data quality at high energy and for very rapid triggered experiments. A large choice of imaging detectors and ancillary probes and sample environments is also available.

Spatial quantification of dynamic inter and intra particle crystallographic heterogeneities within lithium ion electrodes

The performance of lithium ion electrodes is hindered by unfavorable chemical heterogeneities that pre-exist or develop during operation. Time-resolved spatial descriptions are needed to understand the link between such heterogeneities and a cell's performance. Here, operando high-resolution X-ray diffraction-computed tomography is used to spatially and temporally quantify crystallographic heterogeneities within and between particles throughout both fresh and degraded Li_xMn₂O₄ electrodes. This imaging technique facilitates identification of stoichiometric differences between particles and stoichiometric gradients and phase heterogeneities within particles. Through radial quantification of phase fractions, the response of distinct particles to lithiation is found to vary; most particles contain localized regions that transition to rock salt LiMnO₂ within the first cycle. Other particles contain monoclinic Li₂MnO₃ near the surface and almost pure spinel Li_xMn₂O₄ near the core. Following 150 cycles, concentrations of LiMnO₂ and Li₂MnO₃ significantly increase and widely vary between particles.

Spatially Resolving Lithiation in Silicon-Graphite Composite Electrodes via in Situ High-Energy X-ray Diffraction Computed Tomography

Optimizing the chemical and morphological parameters of lithium-ion (Li-ion) electrodes is extremely challenging, due in part to the absence of techniques to construct spatial and temporal descriptions of chemical and morphological heterogeneities. We present the first demonstration of combined high-speed X-ray diffraction (XRD) and XRD computed tomography (XRD-CT) to probe, in 3D, crystallographic heterogeneities within Li-ion electrodes with a spatial resolution of 1 μm. The local charge-transfer mechanism within and between individual particles was investigated in a silicon(Si)-graphite composite electrode. High-speed XRD revealed charge balancing kinetics between the graphite and Si during the minutes following the transition from operation to open circuit. Subparticle lithiation heterogeneities in both Si and graphite were observed using XRD-CT, where the core and shell structures were segmented, and their respective diffraction patterns were characterized.

Quantifying Reaction and Rate Heterogeneity in Battery Electrodes in 3D through Operando X-ray Diffraction Computed Tomography

In composite battery electrode architectures, local limitations in ionic and electronic transport can result in nonuniform energy storage reactions. Understanding such reaction heterogeneity is important to optimizing battery performance, including rate capability and mitigating degradation and failure. Here, we use spatially resolved X-ray diffraction computed tomography to map the reaction in a composite electrode based on the LiFePO₄ active material as it undergoes charge and discharge. Accelerated reactions at the electrode faces in contact with either the separator or the current collector demonstrate that both ionic and electronic transport limit the reaction progress. The data quantify how nonuniformity of the electrode reaction leads to variability in the charge/discharge rate, both as a function of time and position within the electrode architecture. Importantly, this local variation in the reaction rate means that the maximum rate that individual cathode particles experience can be substantially higher than the average, control charge/discharge rate, by a factor of at least 2-5 times. This rate heterogeneity may accelerate rate-dependent degradation pathways in regions of the composite electrode experiencing faster-than-average reaction and has important implications for understanding and optimizing rate-dependent battery performance. Benchmarking multiscale continuum model parameters against the observed reaction heterogeneity permits extension of these models to other electrode geometries.

Design of next-generation ceramic fuel cells and real-time characterization with synchrotron X-ray diffraction computed tomography

Ceramic fuel cells offer a clean and efficient means of producing electricity through a variety of fuels. However, miniaturization of cell dimensions for portable device application remains a challenge, as volumetric power densities generated by readily-available planar/tubular ceramic cells are limited. Here, we demonstrate a concept of ‘micro-monolithic’ ceramic cell design. The mechanical robustness and structural integrity of this design is thoroughly investigated with real-time, synchrotron X-ray diffraction computed tomography, suggesting excellent thermal cycling stability. The successful miniaturization results in an exceptional power density of 1.27 W cm⁻² at 800 °C, which is among the highest reported. This holistic design incorporates both mechanical integrity and electrochemical performance, leading to mechanical property enhancement and representing an important step toward commercial development of portable ceramic devices with high volumetric power (>10 W cm⁻³), fast thermal cycling and marked mechanical reliability.

Miniaturized ceramic fuel cells are attractive for portable devices, but performance should be optimized. Here the authors report a micro-monolithic ceramic cell design for a tubular solid oxide fuel cell containing a multi-channel anode support with enhanced power density and stable operation.

Frequency-dependent decoupling of domain-wall motion and lattice strain in bismuth ferrite

Dynamics of domain walls are among the main features that control strain mechanisms in ferroic materials. Here, we demonstrate that the domain-wall-controlled piezoelectric behaviour in multiferroic BiFeO₃ is distinct from that reported in classical ferroelectrics. In situ X-ray diffraction was used to separate the electric-field-induced lattice strain and strain due to displacements of non-180° domain walls in polycrystalline BiFeO₃ over a wide frequency range. These piezoelectric strain mechanisms have opposing trends as a function of frequency. The lattice strain increases with increasing frequency, showing negative piezoelectric phase angle (i.e., strain leads the electric field), an unusual feature so far demonstrated only in the total macroscopic piezoelectric response. Domain-wall motion exhibits the opposite behaviour, it decreases in magnitude with increasing frequency, showing more common positive piezoelectric phase angle (i.e., strain lags behind the electric field). Charge redistribution at conducting domain walls, oriented differently in different grain families, is demonstrated to be the cause.

Conductive domain walls of ferroelectric materials are considered for device applications demanding a fundamental understanding of their dynamics. Here, frequency-dependent decoupling of strains upon electric field cycling in BiFeO₃ is demonstrated to arise from conductive domain walls.

3D Maps of Mineral Composition and Hydroxyapatite Orientation in Fossil Bone Samples Obtained by X-ray Diffraction Computed Tomography

Whether hydroxyapatite (HA) orientation in fossilised bone samples can be non-destructively retrieved and used to determine the arrangement of the bone matrix and the location of muscle attachments (entheses), is a question of high relevance to palaeontology, as it facilitates a detailed understanding of the (micro-)anatomy of extinct species with no damage to the precious fossil specimens. Here, we report studies of two fossil bone samples, specifically the tibia of a 300-million-year-old tetrapod, Discosauriscus austriacus, and the humerus of a 370-million-year-old lobe-finned fish, Eusthenopteron foordi, using XRD-CT – a combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and computed tomography (CT). Reconstructed 3D images showing the spatial mineral distributions and the local orientation of HA were obtained. For Discosauriscus austriacus, details of the muscle attachments could be discerned. For Eusthenopteron foordi, the gross details of the preferred orientation of HA were deduced using three tomographic datasets obtained with orthogonally oriented rotation axes. For both samples, the HA in the bone matrix exhibited preferred orientation, with the unit cell c-axis of the HA crystallites tending to be parallel with the bone surface. In summary, we have demonstrated that XRD-CT combined with an intuitive reconstruction procedure is becoming a powerful tool for studying palaeontological samples.

X-ray physico-chemical imaging during activation of cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts

The imaging of catalysts and other functional materials under reaction conditions has advanced significantly in recent years. The combination of the computed tomography (CT) approach with methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) now enables local chemical and physical state information to be extracted from within the interiors of intact materials which are, by accident or design, inhomogeneous. In this work, we follow the phase evolution during the initial reduction step(s) to form Co metal, for Co-containing particles employed as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts; firstly, working at small length scales (approx. micrometre spatial resolution), a combination of sample size and density allows for transmission of comparatively low energy signals enabling the recording of 'multimodal' tomography, i.e. simultaneous XRF-CT, XANES-CT and XRD-CT. Subsequently, we show high-energy XRD-CT can be employed to reveal extent of reduction and uniformity of crystallite size on millimetre-sized TiO₂ trilobes. In both studies, the CoO phase is seen to persist or else evolve under particular operating conditions and we speculate as to why this is observed.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Providing sustainable catalytic solutions for a rapidly changing world'.

Identifying the Cause of Rupture of Li-Ion Batteries during Thermal Runaway

As the energy density of lithium-ion cells and batteries increases, controlling the outcomes of thermal runaway becomes more challenging. If the high rate of gas generation during thermal runaway is not adequately vented, commercial cell designs can rupture and explode, presenting serious safety concerns. Here, ultra-high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging is used at >20 000 frames per second to characterize the venting processes of six different 18650 cell designs undergoing thermal runaway. For the first time, the mechanisms that lead to the most catastrophic type of cell failure, rupture, and explosion are identified and elucidated in detail. The practical application of the technique is highlighted by evaluating a novel 18650 cell design with a second vent at the base, which is shown to avoid the critical stages that lead to rupture. The insights yielded in this study shed new light on battery failure and are expected to guide the development of safer commercial cell designs.

Zernike phase contrast in high-energy x-ray transmission microscopy based on refractive optics

The current work represents the first implementation of Zernike phase contrast for compound refractive lens based x-ray microscopy, and also the first successful Zernike phase contrast experiment at photon energies above 12 keV. Phase contrast was achieved by fitting a compound refractive lens with a circular phase plate. The resolution is demonstrated to be sub-micron, and can be improved using already existing technology. The possibility of combining the technique with polychromatic radiation is considered, and a preliminary test experiment was performed with positive results.

Correction: Self-segregated nanostructure in room temperature ionic liquids

Correction for 'Self-segregated nanostructure in room temperature ionic liquids' by Diego Pontoni et al., Soft Matter, 2017, DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01464c.

Self-segregated nanostructure in room temperature ionic liquids

The nanosegregated bulk structure, and its evolution with the cation's alkyl length n, are studied by X-ray scattering for an unprecedentedly broad homologous series of a model room-temperature ionic liquid, [C_nMIM][NTf₂] (n = 4-22). A tri-periodic local structure is found, with the lateral periodicities, d_II and d_III independent of n, and a longitudinal one, d_I, linearly increasing with n. The results are consistent with a local structure comprising alternating layers of polar headgroups and apolar, interdigitated, partly overlapping, cations' alkyl tails, of an average macroscopic mass density close to that of liquid alkanes. A slope decrease in the linear d_I(n) suggests a change from a lower to a higher rate of increase with n of chain overlap for n ≥ 12. The order decay lengths of the layering, and of the lateral chain packing, increase with n, as expected from the increasing van der Waals interaction's domination of the structure. The headgroups' lateral packing decay length decreases with n, due to increasing frustration between the longer lateral periodicity preferred by the headgroups, and the shorter lateral periodicity preferred by the chains. A comparison of the bulk and surface structures highlights the surface's ordering effect, which, however, does not induce here a surface phase different from the bulk, as it does in liquid crystals and liquid alkanes.

The Role of Local Instabilities in Fluid Invasion into Permeable Media

Wettability is an important factor which controls the displacement of immiscible fluids in permeable media, with far reaching implications for storage of CO₂ in deep saline aquifers, fuel cells, oil recovery, and for the remediation of oil contaminated soils. Considering the paradigmatic case of random piles of spherical beads, fluid front morphologies emerging during slow immiscible displacement are investigated in real time by X-ray micro-tomography and quantitatively compared with model predictions. Controlled by the wettability of the bead matrix two distinct displacement patterns are found. A compact front morphology emerges if the invading fluid wets the beads while a fingered morphology is found for non-wetting invading fluids, causing the residual amount of defending fluid to differ by one order of magnitude. The corresponding crossover between these two regimes in terms of the advancing contact angle is governed by an interplay of wettability and pore geometry and can be predicted on the basis of a purely quasi-static consideration of local instabilities that control the progression of the invading interface.

Linear parabolic single-crystal diamond refractive lenses for synchrotron X-ray sources

Linear parabolic diamond refractive lenses are presented, designed to withstand high thermal and radiation loads coming from upgraded accelerator X-ray sources. Lenses were manufactured by picosecond laser treatment of a high-quality single-crystal synthetic diamond. Twelve lenses with radius of curvature at parabola apex R = 200 µm, geometrical aperture A = 900 µm and length L = 1.5 mm were stacked as a compound refractive lens and tested at the ESRF ID06 beamline. A focal spot of size 2.2 µm and a gain of 20 were measured at 8 keV. The lens profile and surface quality were estimated by grating interferometry and X-ray radiography. In addition, the influence of X-ray glitches on the focusing properties of the compound refractive lens were studied.

Interlaced X-ray diffraction computed tomography

An X-ray diffraction computed tomography data-collection strategy that allows, post experiment, a choice between temporal and spatial resolution is reported. This strategy enables time-resolved studies on comparatively short timescales, or alternatively allows for improved spatial resolution if the system under study, or components within it, appear to be unchanging. The application of the method for studying an Mn-Na-W/SiO2 fixed-bed reactor in situ is demonstrated. Additionally, the opportunities to improve the data-collection strategy further, enabling post-collection tuning between statistical, temporal and spatial resolutions, are discussed. In principle, the interlaced scanning approach can also be applied to other pencil-beam tomographic techniques, like X-ray fluorescence computed tomography, X-ray absorption fine structure computed tomography, pair distribution function computed tomography and tomographic scanning transmission X-ray microscopy.

Quantifying Bulk Electrode Strain and Material Displacement within Lithium Batteries via High-Speed Operando Tomography and Digital Volume Correlation

Tracking the dynamic morphology of active materials during operation of lithium batteries is essential for identifying causes of performance loss. Digital volume correlation (DVC) is applied to high-speed operando synchrotron X-ray computed tomography of a commercial Li/MnO2 primary battery during discharge. Real-time electrode material displacement is captured in 3D allowing degradation mechanisms such as delamination of the electrode from the current collector and electrode crack formation to be identified. Continuum DVC of consecutive images during discharge is used to quantify local displacements and strains in 3D throughout discharge, facilitating tracking of the progression of swelling due to lithiation within the electrode material in a commercial, spiral-wound battery during normal operation. Displacement of the rigid current collector and cell materials contribute to severe electrode detachment and crack formation during discharge, which is monitored by a separate DVC approach. Use of time-lapse X-ray computed tomography coupled with DVC is thus demonstrated as an effective diagnostic technique to identify causes of performance loss within commercial lithium batteries; this novel approach is expected to guide the development of more effective commercial cell designs.

Investigating lithium-ion battery materials during overcharge-induced thermal runaway: an operando and multi-scale X-ray CT study

Catastrophic failure of lithium-ion batteries occurs across multiple length scales and over very short time periods. High speed and multi-scale X-ray CT provides new insights into battery failure.

Removing multiple outliers and single-crystal artefacts from X-ray diffraction computed tomography data

This paper reports a simple but effective filtering approach to deal with single-crystal artefacts in X-ray diffraction computed tomography (XRD-CT). In XRD-CT, large crystallites can produce spots on top of the powder diffraction rings, which, after azimuthal integration and tomographic reconstruction, lead to line/streak artefacts in the tomograms. In the simple approach presented here, the polar transform is taken of collected two-dimensional diffraction patterns followed by directional median/mean filtering prior to integration. Reconstruction of one-dimensional diffraction projection data sets treated in such a way leads to a very significant improvement in reconstructed image quality for systems that exhibit powder spottiness arising from large crystallites. This approach is not computationally heavy which is an important consideration with big data sets such as is the case with XRD-CT. The method should have application to two-dimensional X-ray diffraction data in general where such spottiness arises.

Rietveld analysis of computed tomography and its application to methanol to olefin reactor beds

This article reports the creation of tomographic reconstructions giving three-dimensional data on the distribution of various structural features for SAPO-34 zeolite catalyst beds used in the commercially important methanol to olefin conversion process. The data were processed using parametric Rietveld refinement to treat entire slices of the tomograph as single refined data sets, allowing extraction of real structural parameters from all voxels of the reconstruction. This has the advantage over more traditional methods of X-ray diffraction computed tomography using peak intensities, that the structural parameters are independent of the intensity, meaning that information can still be extracted from poor data sets: an example is shown where part of the sample was no longer in the beam during data collection. Reconstructions using several structural parameters are presented and the results compared. Analysis of the variation of the catalystcaxis (linked to the degree of deactivation in earlier work) shows small but significant three-dimensional variations in the degree of deactivation with patterns which depend on the silicon content of the catalyst. Average data for the tomographic slices compare well with the results of earlieroperandotwo-dimensional reactor scanning experiments.

Detection and characterization of nanoparticles in suspension at low concentrations using the X-ray total scattering pair distribution function technique

Difference atomic pair distribution function methods have been applied to detect and characterize nanoparticles suspended in a solvent at very dilute concentrations. We specifically consider nanoparticles of a pharmaceutical compound in aqueous solution using X-ray PDF methods, a challenging case due to the low atomic number of the nanoparticle species. The nanoparticles were unambiguously detected at the level of 0.25 wt%. Even at these low concentrations the signals were highly reproducible, allowing for reliable detection and quantitative analysis of the nanoparticle structure.

Processing Extremely Large Powder Diffraction Datasets Using The Rietveld Method

Modern in situ synchrotron powder diffraction experiments can produce massive volumes of data which are of suitable quality for real structural information to be extracted. Parametric Rietveld refinement (Stinton, 2007) is an ideal method for dealing with such datasets as a huge number of diffraction patterns can be processed in parallel while the number of refined parameters is reduced by linking between scans. The time saving compared to earlier sequential methods of refinement using batch files is very significant with processing times being reduced from weeks to a few hours. The stability of the parametric method allows not only extraction of information from data with very weak trends but also refinement of entire slices of a tomographic map including the regions with zero diffraction. The power of the technique will be illustrated by examples from reactor scanning experiments with high time resolution (Wragg, 2012, 2013) as well as more conventional in situ powder diffraction and operando experiments combining diffraction with mass spectrometry. The extraction of structural information from complete tomographic datasets and reconstructions with real structural parameters will also be demonstrated. The figure shows time and space resolved c-axis data for the SAPO-34 catalyst during methanol to olefin conversion, together with mass spectrometry data collected during the experiment.

Pair distribution function computed tomography

An emerging theme of modern composites and devices is the coupling of nanostructural properties of materials with their targeted arrangement at the microscale. Of the imaging techniques developed that provide insight into such designer materials and devices, those based on diffraction are particularly useful. However, to date, these have been heavily restrictive, providing information only on materials that exhibit high crystallographic ordering. Here we describe a method that uses a combination of X-ray atomic pair distribution function analysis and computed tomography to overcome this limitation. It allows the structure of nanocrystalline and amorphous materials to be identified, quantified and mapped. We demonstrate the method with a phantom object and subsequently apply it to resolving, in situ, the physicochemical states of a heterogeneous catalyst system. The method may have potential impact across a range of disciplines from materials science, biomaterials, geology, environmental science, palaeontology and cultural heritage to health.

Microyielding of core-shell crystal dendrites in a bulk-metallic-glass matrix composite

In-situ synchrotron x-ray experiments have been used to follow the evolution of the diffraction peaks for crystalline dendrites embedded in a bulk metallic glass matrix subjected to a compressive loading-unloading cycle. We observe irreversible diffraction-peak splitting even though the load does not go beyond half of the bulk yield strength. The chemical analysis coupled with the transmission electron microscopy mapping suggests that the observed peak splitting originates from the chemical heterogeneity between the core (major peak) and the stiffer shell (minor peak) of the dendrites. A molecular dynamics model has been developed to compare the hkl-dependent microyielding of the bulk metallic-glass matrix composite. The complementary diffraction measurements and the simulation results suggest that the interface, as Maxwell damper, between the amorphous matrix and the (211) crystalline planes relax under prolonged load that causes a delay in the reload curve which ultimately catches up with the original path.

Non-invasive imaging of the crystalline structure within a human tooth

The internal crystalline structure of a human molar tooth has been non-destructively imaged in cross-section using X-ray diffraction computed tomography. Diffraction signals from high-energy X-rays which have large attenuation lengths for hard biomaterials have been collected in a transmission geometry. Coupling this with a computed tomography data acquisition and mathematically reconstructing their spatial origins, diffraction patterns from every voxel within the tooth can be obtained. Using this method we have observed the spatial variations of some key material parameters including nanocrystallite size, organic content, lattice parameters, crystallographic preferred orientation and degree of orientation. We have also made a link between the spatial variations of the unit cell lattice parameters and the chemical make-up of the tooth. In addition, we have determined how the onset of tooth decay occurs through clear amorphization of the hydroxyapatite crystal, and we have been able to map the extent of decay within the tooth. The described method has strong prospects for non-destructive probing of mineralized biomaterials.

Innovative insights in a plug flow microreactor foroperandoX-ray studies

Different solutions have been proposed over the years to optimize control of the temperature and atmosphere over a catalyst in order to reach an ideal reactor behavior. Here, a new innovative solution which aims to minimize temperature gradients along the catalyst bed is demonstrated. This was attained by focusing the infrared radiation generated from the heating elements onto the catalyst bed with the aid of an aluminium shield. This method yields a ∼0.13 K mm−1axial temperature gradient ranging from 960 to 1173 K. With the selection of appropriate capillaries, pressures of 20 bar (2 MPa) can be attained.

Synchrotron high energy X-ray methods coupled to phase sensitive analysis to characterize aging of solid catalysts with enhanced sensitivity

X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are suitable probes of the chemical state of a catalyst under working conditions but are limited to bulk information. Here we show in two case studies related to hydrothermal aging and chemical modification of model automotive catalysts that enhanced detailed information of structural changes can be obtained when the two methods are combined with a concentration modulated excitation (cME) approach and phase sensitive detection (PSD). The catalysts are subject to a modulation experiment consisting of the periodic variation of the gas feed composition to the catalyst and the time-resolved data are additionally treated by PSD. In the case of a 2 wt% Rh/Al2O3 catalyst, a very small fraction (ca. 2%) of Rh remaining exposed at the alumina surface after hydrothermal aging at 1273 K can be detected by PSD. This Rh is sensitive to the red-ox oscillations of the experiment and is likely responsible for the observed catalytic activity and selectivity during NO reduction by CO. In the case of a 1.6 wt% Pd/Al2O3-Ce(1-x)Zr(x)O2 catalyst, preliminary results of cME-XRD demonstrate that access to the kinetics of the whole material at work can be obtained. Both the red-ox processes involving the oxygen storage support and the Pd component can be followed with great precision. PSD enables the differentiation between Pd deposited on Al2O3 or on Ce(1-x)Zr(x)O2. Modification of the catalyst by phosphorous clearly induces loss of the structural dynamics required for oxygen storage capacity that is provided by the Ce(4+)/Ce(3+) pair. The two case studies demonstrate that detailed kinetics of subtle changes can be uncovered by the combination of in situ X-ray absorption and high energy diffraction methods with PSD.

A new approach to synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction computed tomography

A new data collection strategy for performing synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction computed tomography has been devised. This method is analogous to angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction whose diffraction signal originates from a line formed by intersection of the incident X-ray beam and the sample. Energy resolution is preserved by using a collimator which defines a small sampling voxel. This voxel is translated in a series of parallel straight lines covering the whole sample and the operation is repeated at different rotation angles, thus generating one diffraction pattern per translation and rotation step. The method has been tested by imaging a specially designed phantom object, devised to be a demanding validator for X-ray diffraction imaging. The relative strengths and weaknesses of the method have been analysed with respect to the classic angle-dispersive technique. The reconstruction accuracy of the method is good, although an absorption correction is required for lower energy diffraction because of the large path lengths involved. The spatial resolution is only limited to the width of the scanning beam owing to the novel collection strategy. The current temporal resolution is poor, with a scan taking several hours. The method is best suited to studying large objects (e.g. for engineering and materials science applications) because it does not suffer from diffraction peak broadening effects irrespective of the sample size, in contrast to the angle-dispersive case.

Nanoparticulate Pd supported catalysts: size-dependent formation of Pd(I)/Pd(0) and their role in CO elimination

A combination of time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), hard X-ray diffraction (HXRD), diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and mass spectrometry (MS) reveals a series of size-dependent phenomena at Pd nanoparticles upon CO/(NO+O(2)) cycling conditions. The multitechnique approach and analysis show that such size-dependent phenomena are critical for understanding Pd CO elimination behavior and, particularly, that different Pd(I) and Pd(0) centers act as active species for a size estimated by XAS to be, respectively, below and above ca. 3 nm. The relative catalytic performance of these two noble metal species indicates the intrinsic higher activity of the Pd(I) species.

X-ray tomographic reconstruction of macromolecular samples

The anomalous scattering properties of innate sulfur for proteins and phosphorus for DNA and RNA can be used to solve the phase problem in macromolecular crystallography (MX)viathe single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method (SAD). However, this method, which is carried out at longer X-ray wavelengths (1.5–2.5 Å), is still not a routine tool in MX. The increased absorption from both air and sample associated with the use of longer X-ray wavelengths presents a key difficulty. The absorption can be corrected for through empirical algorithms, provided truly redundant data are available. Unfortunately, weakly diffracting macromolecular crystals suffer from radiation damage, resulting in a dose-dependent non-isomorphism which violates the assumption upon which these empirical algorithms are based. In this report, X-ray microtomography is used to reconstruct the three-dimensional shapes of vitrified macromolecular crystals including the surrounding solvent and sample holder. The setup can be integrated within an MX beamline environment and exploits both absorption and phase contrast. The dose needed for the tomographic measurements could be low enough to allow the technique to be used for crystal integrity characterization and alignment. X-ray tomography has some major benefits compared with the optical-light-based crystal alignment protocols currently used.