Overview

ID21 offers a multimodal set of state-of-the-art techniques for micro-spectroscopic analyses in the tender X-ray (2-9.2KeV).

The scanning X-ray microscope offers sub-micron resolution (0.2×0.7µm²) and ppm detection limits for micro-X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) and micro X-ray absorption spectroscopy (µ-XANES). It operates in vacuum and samples can be studied under cryogenic conditions, allowing the study of frozen hydrated biological specimens (cryosectioned tissues). Typical applications are mapping and speciation of nanoparticles and metal pollutants in soils and organic matrices (e.g plants). The full-field XANES end-station is extremely powerful for elemental speciation in samples compatible with the transmission detection mode. It offers large field of view (up to 2mm²) and micrometer lateral resolution resulting in millions of XANES spectra from one specimen. The synergy of the available techniques offers a unique platform for applications in material and life science.

The µ-Infrared end-station has been shut down on the 4th of October 2017. The µ-XRD branch developed to perform crystalline phase mapping (1×2 µm² beam) is temporarily unavailable (over 2018).

Scientific Applications

Life science (imaging of trace metals in biological samples, medicine...)

Environmental science (soils, plants, geology with problems of pollution, phytoremediation...)

Cultural Heritage (rediscovering lost artistic processes, understanding alteration mechanisms)

Material science (solar cells, glasses...)