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Young Investigator Group Nanoscale Solid-Liquid Interfaces

X-ray spectroscopy

Soft X-ray spectroscopies are particularly powerful to probe the chemical environment of light elements (C, N, O, F) and transition metals. Depending on the research question, we apply X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or Resonant Inelastic X-ray spectroscopy (RIXS), which provide different information on the electron-out and photon-out decay processes following X-ray absorption (photon-in). We are regular user of BESSY II and other synchrotron facilities.

Our in situ/operando spectroscopy development focuses mainly on XAS. For XAS, we are using various holders and electrochemical cells that allow XAS measurements in electron/ion yield, fluorescence yield or transmission modes depending on the measurement we wish to conduct. We are frequent users of: LiXEdrom and Sol3 endstations at the U49/2-PGM1 beamline, PEAXIS endstation at the U41-PGM beamline, OAESE endstation at the EMIL beamline and HE-SGM beamline of BESSY II.

We also collaborate with the CISSY Lab (Iver Lauermann) and the HZB-HU joint research group Hybrid Material Systems (Norbert Koch, Thorsten Schultz) for XPS characterization.

enlarged view

XAS at the Ti L-edge of Ti3C2Tx MXene intercalated with alkali cations. Adapted from Al-Temimy et al, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 15087.

STXM - enlarged view

STXM imaging of Ti3C2Tx MXene flakes in vacuum. Adapted from Amargianou et al, Small Methods, 2024, 2400190.

X-ray microscopy

Using Scanning Transmission Microscopy (STXM) and X-ray Photoemission Electron Microscopy (X-PEEM), XAS can be applied with spatial resolution down to 30nm, which is particularly relevant for the characterization of single entities such as MXene flakes.

We are using three in situ holders enabling STXM at high temperature or biasing in vacuum (holder A), or in gas atmosphere (holder b) as well as enabling liquid measurements (holder C). The latter also allows STXM characterization during electrochemical reactions. STXM is particularly well adapted to the characterization of MXene single flakes. We are frequent users of the MYSTIIC and MAXYMUS endstations at the synchrotron BESSY II. X-PEEM experiments are performed at the S-PEEM endstation.