Business card Dr. rer. nat. Sebastian Eckert
Sebastian Eckert is a scientist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, developing instrumentation for liquid phase X-ray absorption and RIXS studies at synchrotrons and free electron lasers. His Ph.D. was focussed on the investigation of proton dynamics in gaseous and liquid samples using soft X-ray spectroscopy techniques. In this context, he performed the first femtosecond liquid jet nitrogen K-edge RIXS experiment at LCLS and developed the EDAX and AXSYS-NEXAFS endstations at the synchrotron BESSY II, which are dedicated to RIXS and time-resolved X-ray absorption measurements in liquid jet sample environments. In the following years he contributed to the development of a HHG based tabletop femtosecond X-ray absorption setup for gaseous and liquid samples. Returning to Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, he co-manages the user operation and developments of the AXSYS-NEXAFS instrument and is involved in the the high resolution RIXS projects METRIXS at BESSY II and HRIXS at European X-FEL.
Publications
2025
Schlappa, J.; Ghiringhelli, G.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Teichmann, M.; Miedema, P.S.; Delitz, J.T.; Gerasimova, N.; Molodtsov, S.; Adriano, L.; Baranasic, B.; Broers, C.; Carley, R.; Gessler, P.; Ghodrati, N.; Hickin, D.; Hoang, L.P.; Izquierdo, M.; Mercadier, L.; Mercurio, G.; Parchenko, S.; Stupar, M.; Yin, Z.; Martinelli, L.; Merzoni, G.; Peng, Y.Y.; Reuss, T.; Sreekantan, S.; Lalithambika, N.; Techert, S.; Laarmann, T.; Huotari, S.; Schroeter, C.; Langer, B.; Giessel, T.; Buchheim, J.; Gwalt, G.; Sokolov, A.; Siewert, F.; Buechner, R.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Liu, C.-Y.; Sohrt, C.; Weniger, C.; Pietzsch, A.; Neppl, S.; Senf, F.; Scherz, A.; Föhlisch, A.: The Heisenberg-RIXS instrument at the European XFEL. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation 32 (2025), p. 29–45
2024
Ignatova, N.; Kimberg, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Pietzsch, A.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Kennedy, B.; Dantz, M.; Schmitt, T.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.; Vaz Da Cruz, V.: Ballistic and delayed photodissociation channels in the ˜B 21A1 state of water studied with resonant inelastic x-ray scattering. Physical Review A 110 (2024), p. 033119/1-9
Mascarenhas, E.J.; Fondell, M.; Büchner, R.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Föhlisch, A.: The Role of the Lowest Excited Triplet State in Defining the Rate of Photoaquation of Hexacyanometalates. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 15 (2024), p. 241-247
Savchenko, V.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Föhlisch, A.: Electronic structure, bonding and stability of fumarate, maleate, and succinate dianions from X-ray spectroscopy. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 26 (2024), p. 2304-2311
Wallick, R.F.; Chakrabati, S.; Burke, J.H.; Gnewkow, R.; Byeong Chae, Ju; Rossi, T.C.; Mantouvalou, I.; Kanngiesser, B.; Fondell, M.; Eckert, S.; Dykstra, C.; Smith, L.E.; Vura-Weis, J.; Mirica, L.; Van der Veen, R.: Excited-State Identification of a Nickel-Bipyridine Photocatalyst by Time-Resolved X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 15 (2024), p. 4976–4982
2022
Eckert, S.; Mascarenhas, E.J.; Mitzner, R.; Jay, R.M.; Pietzsch, A.; Fondell, M.; da Cruz, V.V.; Föhlisch, A.: From the Free Ligand to the Transition Metal Complex: FeEDTA- Formation Seen at Ligand K-Edges. Inorganic Chemistry 61 (2022), p. 10321-10328
Eckert, S.; Winghart, M.-O.; Kleine, C.; Banerjee, A.; Ekimova, M.; Ludwig, J.; Harich, J.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Pines, E.; Huse, N.; Wernet, P.; Odelius, M.; Nibbering, E.T. J.: Electronic Structure Changes of an Aromatic Amine Photoacid along the Förster Cycle. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 61 (2022), p. e202200709/1-7
Eckert, S.; Winghart, M.-O.; Kleine, C.; Banerjee, A.; Ekimova, M.; Ludwig, J.; Harich, J.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Pines, E.; Huse, N.; Wernet, P.; Odelius, M.; Nibbering, E.T.J.: Änderungen der elektronischen Struktur einer Amino-Photosäure entlang des Förster Zyklus. Angewandte Chemie 134 (2022), p. e202200709/1-8
Mascarenhas, E.J.; Fondell, M.; Büchner, R.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Föhlisch, A.: Photo-induced ligand substitution of Cr(CO)6 in 1-pentanol probed by time resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 24 (2022), p. 17979–17985
Ochmann, M.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Huse, N.; Föhlisch, A.: R-Group stabilization in methylated formamides observed by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. Chemical Communications 58 (2022), p. 8834–8837
Pietzsch, A.; Niskanen, J.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Büchner, R.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Jay, R.M.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.; Schmitt, T.; Föhlisch, A.: Cuts through the manifold of molecular H2O potential energy surfaces in liquid water at ambient conditions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : PNAS 119 (2022), p. e2118101119/1-6
Vaz Da Cruz, V.; Büchner, R.; Fondell, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Eckert, S.; Föhlisch, A.: Targeting Individual Tautomers in Equilibrium by Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 13 (2022), p. 2459-2466
Vaz da Cruz, V.; Mascarenhas, E.J.; Buechner, R.; Jay, R.M.; Fondell, M.; Eckert, S.; Föhlisch, A.: Metal-water covalency in the photo-aquated ferrocyanide complex as seen by multi-edge picosecond X-ray absorption. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 24 (2022), p. 27819-27826
2021
Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Ochmann, M.; Von Ahnen, I.; Föhlisch, A.; Huse, N.: Breaking the Symmetry of Pyrimidine: Solvent Effects and Core-Excited State Dynamics. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 12 (2021), p. 8637–8643
Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Ochmann, M.; Hantschmann, M.; Cordones, A.A.; Cho, H.; Hong, K.; Ma, R.; Lee, J.H.; Dakovski, G.L.; Turner, J.J.; Minitti, M.P.; Quevedo, W.; Pietzsch, A.; Beye, M.; Kim, T.K.; Schoenlein, R.W.; Wernet, P.; Föhlisch, A.; Huse, N.: Following Metal-to-Ligand Charge-Transfer Dynamics with Ligand and Spin Specificity Using Femtosecond Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering at the Nitrogen K-Edge. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 12 (2021), p. 6676–6683
Kleine, C.; Ekimova, M.; Winghart, M.O.; Eckert, S.; Reichel, O.; Löchel, H.; Probst, J.; Braig, C.; Seifert, C.; Erko, A.; Sokolov, A.; Vrakking, M.J.J.; Nibbering, E.T.J.; Rouzée, A.: Highly efficient soft x-ray spectrometer for transient absorption spectroscopy with broadband table-top high harmonic sources. Structural Dynamics 8 (2021), p. 034302/1-6
Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Foehlisch, A.: TD-DFT simulations of K-edge resonant inelastic X-ray scattering within the restricted subspace approximation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 23 (2021), p. 1835-1848
2020
Eckert, S.; Winghart, M.-O.; Kleine, C.; Banerjee, A.; Ekimova, M.; Ludwig, J.; Harich, J.; Mitzner, R.; Aminov, D.; Pines, D.; Pines, E.; Huse, N.; Odelius, M.; Nibbering, E. T. J.: Deciphering Photoacidity by Following Electronic Charge Distribution Changes along the Photoacid Förster Cycle with Time-Resolved Nitrogen K-Edge X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy. In: The 22nd International Conference on Ultrafast Phenomena 2020 : 16–19 November 2020, Washington, D.C., United StatesWashington, D.C.: OSA, 2020 OSA Conference Proceedings. - ISBN 978-1-943580-83-5, p. Tu2A.6/1-3
Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Mitzner, R.; Fondell, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Quantitative evaluation of transient valence orbital occupations in a 3d transition metal complex as seen from the metal and ligand perspective. Chemical Physics Letters 754 (2020), p. 137681/1-5
Jay, R.M.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.: Probing Solute-Solvent Interactions of Transition Metal Complexes Using L-Edge Absorption Spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 124 (2020), p. 5636-5645
2019
Eckert, S.; Norell, J.; Raphael, J.; Mattis, F.; Mitzner, R.; Michael, O.; Alexander, F.: T1 Population as the Driver of Excited-State Proton-Transfer in 2-Thiopyridone. Chemistry - A European Journal 25 (2019), p. 1733-1739
Eckert, Sebastian Oliver: Accessing Active Sites of Molecular Proton Dynamics. , Potsdam, Universität Potsdam, Diss., 2019
https://www.gbv.de/dms/tib-ub-hannover/1662748493.pdf
https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/42587
Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Foehlisch, A.: Kovalenzgetriebene Erhaltung lokaler Ladungsdichten in einem durch Metall-Ligand-Ladungstransfer angeregten Eisenphotosensibilisator. Angewandte Chemie 131 (2019), p. 10853 –10857
Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Foehlisch, A.: Cover: Kovalenzgetriebene Erhaltung lokaler Ladungsdichten in einem durch Metall-Ligand-Ladungstransfer angeregten Eisenphotosensibilisator. Angewandte Chemie 131 (2019)
Jay, R.M.; Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Fondell, M.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.: Covalency-Driven Preservation of Local Charge Densities in a Metal-to-Ligand Charge-Transfer Excited Iron Photosensitizer. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 58 (2019), p. 10742-10746
Niskanen, J.; Fondell, M.; Sahle, C.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.; Gilmore, K.; Pietzsch, A.; Dantz, M.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.; Schmitt, T.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Kimberg, V.; Gel’mukhanov, F.; Föhlisch, A.: Compatibility of quantitative X-ray spectroscopy with continuous distribution models of water at ambient conditions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : PNAS 116 (2019), p. 4058-4063
Niskanen, J.; Fondell, M.; Sahle, C.J.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.; Gilmore, K.; Pietzsch, A.; Dantz, M.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.E.; Schmitt, T.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Kimberg, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Foehlisch, A.: Reply: Why X-ray spectral features are compatible to continuous distribution models in ambient water. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : PNAS 116 (2019), p. 17159
Norell, J.; Eckert, S.; Van Kuiken, B. E.; Foehlisch, A.; Odelius, M.: Ab initio simulations of complementary K-edges and solvatization effects for detection of proton transfer in aqueous 2-thiopyridone. The Journal of Chemical Physics 151 (2019), p. 114117/1-12
Vaz da Cruz, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Eckert, S.; Iannuzzi, M.; Ertan, E.; Pietzsch, A.; Couto, R.C.; Niskanen, J.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Schmitt, T.; Lu, X.; McNally, D.; Jay, R.M.; Kimberg, V.; Foehlisch, A.; Odelius, M.: Probing hydrogen bond strength in liquid water by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. Nature Communications 10 (2019), p. 1013/1-9
Vaz da Cruz, V.; Ignatova, N.; Couto, R.C.; Fedotov, D.A.; Rehn, D.R.; Savchenko, V.; Norman, P.; Agren, H.; Polyutov, S.; Niskanen, J.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.M.; Fondell, M.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Foehlisch, A.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Kimberg, V.: Nuclear dynamics in resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption of methanol. The Journal of Chemical Physics 150 (2019), p. 234301/1-20
2018
Eckert, S.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Ertan, E.; Ignatova, N.; Polyutov, S.; Cuoto, R.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.: One-dimensional cuts through multidimensional potential-energy surfaces by tunable x rays. Physical Review A 97 (2018), p. 053410/1-7
Ertan, E.; Savchenko, V.; Ignatova, N.; Vaz da Cruz, V.; Couto, R.C.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, Ma.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Föhlisch, A.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Kimberg, V.: Ultrafast dissociation features in RIXS spectra of the water molecule. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20 (2018), p. 14384-14397
Jay, R.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Miedema, P.; Norell, J.; Pietzsch, A.; Quevedo, W.; Niskanen, J.; Kunnus, K.; Föhlisch, A.: The nature of frontier orbitals under systematic ligand exchange in (pseudo-)octahedral Fe(II) complexes. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20 (2018), p. 27745-27751
Jay, R.; Norell, J.; Eckert, S.; Hantschmann, M.; Beye, M.; Kennedy, B.; Quevedo, W.; Schlotter, W.; Dakovski, G.; Minitti, M.; Hoffmann, M.; Mitra, A.; Moeller, S.; Nordlund, D.; Zhang, W.; Liang, H.; Kunnus, K.; Kubicek, K.; Techert, S.; Lundberg, M.; Wernet, P.; Gaffney, K.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Disentangling Transient Charge Density and Metal-Ligand Covalency in Photoexcited Ferricyanide with Femtosecond Resonant Inelastic Soft X-ray Scattering. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 9 (2018), p. 3538-3543
Norell, J.; Jay, R.; Hantschmann, M.; Eckert, S.; Guo, M.; Gaffney, K.; Wernet, P.; Lundberg, M.; Föhlisch, A.; Odelius, M.: Fingerprints of electronic, spin and structural dynamics from resonant inelastic soft X-ray scattering in transient photo-chemical species. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 20 (2018), p. 7243-7253
2017
Couto, R.C.; Cruz, V.V.; Ertan, E.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Guimaraes, F.F.; Agren, H.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Kimberg, V.; Föhlisch, A.: Selective gating to vibrational modes through resonant X-ray scattering. Nature Communications 8 (2017), p. 14165/1-7
Eckert, S.; Niskannen, J.; Jay, R.M.; Miedema, P.S.; Fondell, M.; Kennedy, B.; Quevedo, W.; Iannuzzi, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Valence Orbitals and Local Bond Dynamics Around N Atoms of Histidine Under X-ray Irradiation. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 19 (2017), p. 32091 - 32098
Eckert, S.; Norell, J.; Miedema, P.S.; Beye, M.; Fondell, M.; Quevedo, W.; Kennedy, B.; Hantschmann, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Ross, M.; Minitti, M.P.; Moeller, S.P.; Schlotter, W.F.; Khalil, M.; Odelius, M.; Foehlisch, A.: Untersuchung unabhängiger N-H-und N-C-Bindungsverformungen auf ultrakurzen Zeitskalen mit resonanter inelastischer Röntgenstreuung. Angewandte Chemie 129 (2017), p. 6184-6188
Eckert, S.; Norell, J.; Miedema, P.S.; Beye, M.; Fondell, M.; Quevedo, W.; Kennedy, B.; Hantschmann, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Van Kuiken, B.E.; Ross, M.; Minitti, M.P.; Moeller, S.P.; Schlotter, W.F.; Khalil, M.; Odelius, M.; Foehlisch, A.: Ultrafast Independent N-H and N-C Bond Deformation Investigated with Resonant Inelastic X-Ray Scattering. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 56 (2017), p. 6088-6092
Fondell, M.; Eckert, S.; Jay, R.; Weniger, C.; Quevedo, W.; Niskanen, J.; Kennedy, B.; Sorgenfrei, F.; Schick, D.; Giangrisostomi, E.; Ovsyannikov, R.; Adamczyk, K.; Huse, N.; Wernet, P.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.: Time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy in transmission mode on liquids at MHz repetition rates. Structural Dynamics 4 (2017), p. 054902/1-11
Vaz da Cruz, V.; Ertan, E.; Couto, R.C.; Eckert, S.; Fondell, M.; Dantz, M.; Kennedy, B.; Schmitt, T.; Pietzsch, A.; Guimaraes, F.F.; Agren, H.; Gel'mukhanov, F.; Odelius, M.; Föhlisch, A.; Kimberg, V.: A study of the water molecule using frequency control over nuclear dynamics in resonant X-ray scattering. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 19 (2017), p. 19573-19589
2016
Eckert, S.; Miedema, P.S.; Quevedo, W.; O'Cinneide, B.; Fondell, M.; Beye, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Ross, M.; Khalil, M.; Föhlisch, A.: Molecular structures and protonation state of 2-Mercaptopyridine in aqueous solution. Chemical Physics Letters 647 (2016), p. 103-106
Schick, D.; Eckert, S.; Pontius, N.; Mitzner, R.; Föhlisch, A.; Holldack, K.; Sorgenfrei, F.: Versatile soft X-ray-optical cross-correlator for ultrafast applications. Structural Dynamics 3 (2016), p. 054304/1-8
2015
Eckert, S.; Beye, M.; Pietzsch, A.; Quevedo, W.; Hantschmann, M.; Ochmann, M.; Ross, M.; Minitti, M. P.; Turner, J. J.; Moeller, S. P.; Schlotter, W. F.; Dakovski, G. L.; Khalil, M.; Huse, N.; Föhlisch, A.: Principles of femtosecond X-ray/optical cross-correlation with X-ray induced transient optical reflectivity in solids. Applied Physics Letters 106 (2015), p. 061104/1-4
Sellberg, J.; McQueen, T.; Laksmono, H.; Schreck, S.; Beye, M.; DePonte, D.; Kennedy, B.; Nordlund, D.; Sierra, R.; Schlesinger, D.; Tokushima, T.; Zhovtobriukh, I.; Eckert, S.; Segtnan, V.; Ogasawara, H.; Kubicek, K.; Techert, S.; Bergmann, U.; Dakovski, G.; Schlotter, W.; Harada, Y.; Bogan, M.; Wernet, P.; Föhlisch, A.; Pettersson, L.; Nilsson, A.: X-ray emission spectroscopy of bulk liquid water in “no-man’s land”. The Journal of Chemical Physics 142 (2015), p. 044505/1-9
2014
Schreck, S.; Beye, M.; Sellberg, J.A.; McQueen, T.; Laksmono, H.; Kennedy, B.; Eckert, S.; Schlesinger, D.; Nordlund, D.; Ogasawara, H.; Sierra, R.G.; Segtnan, V.H.; Kubicek, K.; Schlotter, W.F.; Dakovski, G.L.; Moeller, S.P.; Bergmann, U.; Techert, S.; Pettersson, L.G.M.; Wernet, P.; Bogan, M.J.; Harada, Y.; Nilsson, A.; Föhlisch, A.: Reabsorption of Soft X-Ray Emission at High X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Fluences. Physical Review Letters 113 (2014), p. 153002/1-6
2012
Kunnus, K.; Rajkovic, I.; Schreck, S.; Quevedo, W.; Eckert, S.; Beye, M.; Suljoti, E.; Weniger, C.; Kalus, C.; Grübel, S.; Scholz, M.; Nordlund, D.; Zhang, W.; Hartsock, R.W.; Gaffney, K.J.; Schlotter, W.F.; Turner, J.J.; Kennedy, B.; Hennies, F.; Techert, S.; Wernet, P.; Föhlisch, A.: A setup for resonant inelastic soft x-ray scattering on liquids at free electron laser light sources. Review of Scientific Instruments 83 (2012), p. 123109/1-8