Instrument Development: In Operando Capability for Benchtop X-ray Emission Spectroscopy

在化学测量和成像计划的支持下，以及化学催化计划的部分共同资助下，华盛顿大学的塞德勒和科萨伊特教授正在致力于开发一种新的X射线光谱仪，以便能够在特殊样品环境中研究化学系统。具体地说，他们正在开发分析工具，用于表征活跃在化学反应中的材料，例如从水和二氧化碳等简单而丰富的起始化学物种合成燃料的过程中。他们的工作将通过提供被称为同步加速器的专门的大规模光源的替代品，极大地扩大获得X射线光谱分析的机会。为学生创造一个多学科的环境，并将先进的X射线光谱学纳入华盛顿大学物理和化学的高级实验室课程，将带来显著的教育效益。X射线吸收精细结构(XAFS)和高分辨率X射线发射光谱(XES)是两种先进的X射线能谱仪，其影响涉及化学、材料科学、环境科学、地球物理和其他几个领域。然而，它们的应用范围受到它们对同步加速器x射线光源的普遍依赖的限制。Seidler和Cossairt教授正在开发一种新的基于实验室的光谱仪和光源，可以很容易地耦合到特殊的样品环境，如电催化电池。通过在实验室中实现Operando XES，这将为实时研究许多不同类型化学反应中反应物和中间体的元素特定电子结构铺平道路，而不需要同步加速器束时间。从这些OPANDO研究中获得的信息将为电催化过程中元素形态的性质提供新的见解，提供关于燃料形成反应发生的机制以及如何改变催化位置以改善未来反应轨迹的更深层次的知识。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Chemical Measurement & Imaging program, and partial co-funding from the Chemical Catalysis program, Professors Seidler and Cossairt of the University of Washington are working to develop a new x-ray spectrometer to enable studies of chemical systems in special sample environments. Specifically, they are developing analysis tools for characterization of materials actively involved in chemical reactions, such as during the synthesis of fuels from simple and abundant starting chemical species like water and carbon dioxide. Their work will greatly expand access to x-ray spectrometry by providing alternatives to specialized, large-scale light sources known as synchrotrons. Significant educational benefits derive from creating a multidisciplinary environment for the students involved and by incorporating advanced x-ray spectroscopy into senior-level laboratory courses in both Physics and Chemistry at the University of Washington.X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and high-resolution x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) are two advanced x-ray spectroscopies that have high impact across chemistry, materials science, environmental science, geophysics, and several other fields. However, their range of application is constrained by their general reliance on synchrotron x-ray light sources. Professors Seidler and Cossairt are developing a new lab-based spectrometer and source that can easily couple to special sample environments, such as an electrocatalytic cell. By enabling operando XES in the laboratory, this will pave the way for real-time studies of element-specific electronic structure of reactants and intermediates in many different types of chemical reactions, without a need for synchrotron beamtime. Information gained from these operando studies will provide new insight into the nature of element speciation during electrocatalytic processes, providing deeper knowledge of the mechanisms by which fuel-forming reactions occur and how catalytic sites might be altered to improve reaction trajectories in the future.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.