Advancing Soft X-ray Spectromicroscopy

在接下来的5年里，我们的研究将增强两种软X射线显微镜技术的仪器，技术和分析软件-扫描透射X射线显微镜（STXM）和重叠成像。我们将（i）提高空间分辨率;（ii）提供更准确的二维空间分辨化学映射;（iii）设计方法，以尽量减少辐射损伤，包括低温冷却和压缩传感，一种新的图像采集方法。我们将使用这些改进的能力，研究（a）催化剂的CO2电还原工作条件下（operando）;（B）的细胞内生物矿化的机制，由趋磁细菌的单晶磁铁矿，和（c）硫形态在S 1 s边缘的同向海洋细菌古菌财团耦合全球硫和碳循环。 我们的长期目标是开发新的或改进的软X射线显微镜技术和新的应用类别。在未来5年内我们将：（1）完成叠联学的发展（一种提高STXM空间分辨率的方法）在加拿大光源（CLS）和法国同步加速器太阳能;（2）进行CO2电还原催化剂的原位和操作电化学STXM研究;（3）在2021年秋季安装新的单色仪后，帮助重新调试CLS软X射线显微镜光束线，这将在2000 - 3500 eV范围内的能量下给出超过一个数量级的性能改进。(4)使用新仪器进行生物地球化学研究，特别是使用S 1 s边缘（2460 eV）分析与气候变化相关的系统中的硫形态。 该研究计划将为能源材料领域提供重要的新知识。我们将提供用于CO2电还原的新催化剂的直接化学表征，这是一种回收CO2的方法。在生物竞技场，我们将提供更多的信息，细胞内磁铁矿的生物矿化的趋磁细菌，和一个新发现的原生生物物种（第一个真核细胞发现，使链的细胞内磁铁矿）。在这项研究中开发的改进的STXM和重叠关联能力将影响许多加拿大和国际研究人员的研究，特别是那些希望超越静态样品的成像和光谱学的研究，以研究系统如何在温度，湿度，电流，化学反应等。我们的仪器和技术开发将在CLS的出版物和会议上发表，并通过aXis 2000，我开发的光谱显微镜软件包，并继续改进。通过解决挑战当前软X射线显微镜能力的具体项目，我的团队的研究显著推进了该领域，并使加拿大首屈一指的软X射线显微镜设施处于最前沿。

Over the next 5 years our research will enhance instrumentation, techniques and analysis software for two soft X-ray microscopy techniques - scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and ptychography. We will (i) improve spatial resolution; (ii) provide more accurate spatially resolved chemical mapping in 2D (iii) devise methods to minimize radiation damage, including cryo-cooling and compressive sensing, a novel image acquisition method. We will use these improved capabilities to study (a) catalysts for CO2 electro-reduction under working conditions (operando); (b) mechanisms of intracellular biomineralization of single crystal magnetite by magnetotactic bacteria, and (c) sulfur speciation at the S 1s edge of syntropic marine bacterial-archae consortia which couple global sulfur and carbon cycles. Our long-term objectives are to develop new or improved soft x-ray microscopy techniques, and new classes of application. In the next 5 years we will: (1) complete development of ptychography (a method of enhancing spatial resolution in STXM) at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) and at Synchrotron Soleil in France; (2) carry out in situ and operando electrochemical STXM studies of CO2 electro-reduction catalysts; (3) help re-commission the CLS soft X-ray microscopy beamline after a new monochromator is installed in fall 2021, which will give more than an order of magnitude improvement in performance at energies in the 2000 - 3500 eV range. (4) carry out bio-geo-chemical studies with the new instrumentation, in particular use the S 1s edge (2460 eV) to analyze sulfur speciation in systems relevant to climate change. Scientifically this research program will provide important new knowledge in the energy materials sector. We will provide direct chemical characterization of new catalysts for CO2 electro-reduction, a method of recycling CO2. In the biological arena we will provide additional information on biomineralization of intracellular magnetite by magnetotactic bacteria, and a newly discovered protist species (first eukaryotic cell found which makes chains of intracellular magnetite). The improved STXM and ptychographic capabilities developed in this research will impact studies by many Canadian and international researchers, in particular those who wish to go beyond imaging and spectroscopy of static samples, to studies of how systems change under the influence of factors such as temperature, humidity, electrical currents, chemical reactions etc. Our instrumentation and technique development will be made available at CLS presented in publications and conferences and through aXis2000, the spectromicroscopy software package that I developed and continue to improve. By tackling specific projects which challenge current soft X-ray microscopy capabilities, my group's research significantly advances the field, and keeps the CLS soft X-ray microscopy facility, Canada's premier system for such studies, at the forefront.