Multimodal x-ray and electron microscopy of the Allende meteorite

From Meteorite to Life's Building Blocks: A possible Electrochemical Pathway to Amino Acids and Peptide Bonds

This study explores the electrochemical properties of the carbonaceous Allende CV3 meteorite, focusing on its potential as a Fe-based catalyst derived from Mackinawite iron sulfide for electrocatalytic reactions facilitating nitrogen (N2) fixation into ammonia. Through comprehensive analysis, we not only monitored the evolution of key compounds such as CN-, sulfur/H2S, H2 and carbonyl compounds, but also identified potential reagent carriers, indicating significant implications for the Strecker synthesis of amino acids in space environments. Initial examination revealed the presence of polypeptides, notably sequences including dimer Ala-α-HO-Gly, pentamer Gly3-Ala2, and hexamer Gly4-(HO-Gly)2. These discoveries greatly enhance our understanding of astrobiological chemistry, offering valuable insights into prebiotic processes and the potential presence of life-building blocks throughout the universe.

Imaging 3D chemistry at 1 nm resolution with fused multi-modal electron tomography

Measuring the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of chemistry in nanoscale matter is a longstanding challenge for metrological science. The inelastic scattering events required for 3D chemical imaging are too rare, requiring high beam exposure that destroys the specimen before an experiment is completed. Even larger doses are required to achieve high resolution. Thus, chemical mapping in 3D has been unachievable except at lower resolution with the most radiation-hard materials. Here, high-resolution 3D chemical imaging is achieved near or below one-nanometer resolution in an Au-Fe3O4 metamaterial within an organic ligand matrix, Co3O4-Mn3O4 core-shell nanocrystals, and ZnS-Cu0.64S0.36 nanomaterial using fused multi-modal electron tomography. Multi-modal data fusion enables high-resolution chemical tomography often with 99% less dose by linking information encoded within both elastic (HAADF) and inelastic (EDX/EELS) signals. We thus demonstrate that sub-nanometer 3D resolution of chemistry is measurable for a broad class of geometrically and compositionally complex materials.

Multimodal X-ray probe station at 9C beamline of Pohang Light Source-II

In this study, the conceptual design and performance of a multimodal X-ray probe station recently installed at the 9C coherent X-ray scattering beamline of the Pohang Light Source-II are presented. The purpose of this apparatus is to measure coherent X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and electrical properties simultaneously. A miniature vacuum probe station equipped with a four-point probe was mounted on a six-axis motion hexapod. This can be used to study the structural and chemical evolution of thin films or nanostructures, as well as device performance including electronic transport properties. This probe station also provides the capability of varying sample environments such as gas atmosphere using a mass-flow-control system and sample temperatures up to 600°C using a pyrolytic boron nitride heater. The in situ annealing of ZnO thin films and the performance of ZnO nanostructure-based X-ray photodetectors are discussed. These results demonstrate that a multimodal X-ray probe station can be used for performing in situ and operando experiments to investigate structural phase transitions involving electrical resistivity switching.

Structural and chemical evolution in layered oxide cathodes of lithium-ion batteries revealed by synchrotron techniques

Rechargeable battery technologies have revolutionized electronics, transportation and grid energy storage. Many materials are being researched for battery applications, with layered transition metal oxides (LTMO) the dominating cathode candidate with remarkable electrochemical performance. Yet, daunting challenges persist in the quest for further battery developments targeting lower cost, longer lifespan, improved energy density and enhanced safety. This is, in part, because of the intrinsic complexity of real-world batteries, featuring sophisticated interplay among microstructural, compositional and chemical heterogeneities, which has motivated tremendous research efforts using state-of-the-art analytical techniques. In this research field, synchrotron techniques have been identified as a suite of effective methods for advanced battery characterization in a non-destructive manner with sensitivities to the lattice, electronic and morphological structures. This article provides a holistic overview of cutting-edge developments in synchrotron-based research on LTMO battery cathode materials. We discuss the complexity and evolution of LTMO’s material properties upon battery operation and review recent synchrotron-based research works that address the frontier challenges and provide novel insights in this field. Finally, we formulate a perspective on future directions of synchrotron-based battery research, involving next-generation X-ray facilities and advanced computational developments.

Dynamic observation and motion tracking of individual gold atoms with HAADF-STEM imaging

The tracked trajectories give direct visualization of individual atoms' movements, and the number of tracked atoms in each frame is quantified.

Table-Top Water-Window Microscope Using a Capillary Discharge Plasma Source with Spatial Resolution 75 nm

We present a design of a compact transmission water-window microscope based on the Z-pinching capillary discharge nitrogen plasma source. The microscope operates at wavelength of 2.88 nm (430 eV), and with its table-top dimensions provides an alternative to large-scale soft X-ray (SXR) microscope systems based on synchrotrons and free-electron lasers. The emitted soft X-ray radiation is filtered by a titanium foil and focused by an ellipsoidal condenser mirror into the sample plane. A Fresnel zone plate was used to create a transmission image of the sample onto a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. To assess the resolution of the microscope, we imaged a standard sample-copper mesh. The spatial resolution of the microscope is 75 nm at half-pitch, calculated via a 10–90% intensity knife-edge test. The applicability of the microscope is demonstrated by the imaging of green algae-Desmodesmus communis. This paper describes the principle of capillary discharge source, design of the microscope, and experimental imaging results of Cu mesh and biological sample.

Future trends in synchrotron science at NSLS-II

In this paper, we summarize briefly some of the future trends in synchrotron science as seen at the National Synchrotron Light Source II, a new, low emittance source recently commissioned at Brookhaven National Laboratory. We touch upon imaging techniques, the study of dynamics, the increasing use of multimodal approaches, the vital importance of data science, and other enabling technologies. Each are presently undergoing a time of rapid change, driving the field of synchrotron science forward at an ever increasing pace. It is truly an exciting time and one in which Roger Cowley, to whom this journal issue is dedicated, would surely be both invigorated by, and at the heart of.