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In this work, we describe the use of artificial neural networks for the quantification of X-ray fluorescence measurements. The training data were generated using Monte Carlo simulation, which avoided the use of adapted reference materials. The extension of the available data set by means of an ANN to generate additional data was demonstrated. Particular emphasis was put on the comparability of simulated and experimental data and how the influence of deviations can be reduced. The search for the optimal hyperparameter, manual and automatic, is also described. For the presented case, we were able to train a network with a mean absolute error of 0.1 weight percent for the synthetic data and 0.7 weight percent for a set of experimental data obtained with certified reference materials.
The first hard x-ray beamline at BESSY II has been installed by BAM and PTB at a superconducting 7 T wavelength shifter. The main optical elements of the beamline are a double-multilayer monochromator and a double-crystal monochromator. Depending on the application, the two devices are used separately or in-line. The main applications of the monochromatic radiation with photon energies up to 60 keV are x-ray fluorescence analysis, micro computed tomography, x-ray topography, detector calibration and reflectometry. Calculable undispersed radiation up to 200 keV is available for radiometric applications.
Synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) spectrometry was applied to determine iodine concentrations in alluvial Pt–Pd aggregates with delicate morphological features from Córrego Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The millimetre-sized botryoidal and rod-shaped grains of alluvial Pt–Pd–Hg intermetallic compounds have surprisingly high concentrations of iodine, in the range from 10 to ~ 120 μg/g. Because iodine is a strongly biophile element, known to be enriched in peatlands and plant remains in soils by microbial activity, its concentration in the Pt–Pd nuggets suggests biogenic precious-metal fixation in the aqueous alluvial milieu. Biogenic and inorganic processes, such as bioreduction and electrochemical metal accretion, could mutually have contributed to the growth of nanoparticles, formed on organic templates, to millimetric Pt–Pd nuggets.
Fire-gilding is a historic technique for the application of golden layers on a number of different base materials utilizing a gold amalgam. This technique leaves a significant amount of Hg in the golden layer, giving archeometrists a reliable indicator to identify firegildings.
Recent findings on presumably fire-gilded objects have shown in several cases significantly lower Hg content than previously studied objects. This prompted a synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence investigation into the Hg distribution along the material–gilding interface, as well as a series of measurements regarding the Hg content development in fire-gilded samples during artificial aging. This work presents findings on laboratory-prepared fire-gildings, indicating an Hg enrichment at the interface of firegilded silver samples. Notably, such an enrichment is missing in fire-gilded copper samples. Further, it is confirmed that fire-gilded layers typically do not undercut an Hg bulk content of 5%. In this light, it seems improbable that ancient samples that contain <5% Hg are fire-gilded. The results presented in this study might lead to a non-destructive method to identify the Hg enrichment at the interface. This might be obtained by a combination of different non-destructive measurements and might also work unambiguously in samples in which the gold top layer is altered.
The vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is currently a potential candidate for stationary energy storage. A major challenge is the unintended vanadium transport through the separator, which results in a fade of capacity. To overcome this issue, it is necessary to understand the transport processes in the membrane on a more fundamental level. In this work, the vanadium species distribution in Nafion™ 117 after cyclization was investigated. Two membranes, one from a charged VRFB and another from a discharged VRFB, were analyzed using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV/VIS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES). Little difference between the two membranes was recognizable according to the UV/VIS results. In comparison, the XANES results showed that the membrane from the charged VRFB contains more V3+ than VO2+, whereas for the discharged case, more VO2+ is present in the membrane.
Fire-gilding or amalgam gilding is a historical technique for the gilding of objects. The object to be gilded is coated with an amalgam (a solution of gold (Au) in mercury (Hg)). By heating, the largest part of the Hg is subsequently evaporated and there remains a gold layer, containing still detectable amounts of Hg.
The information on the used gilding technique might be crucial for the conservation and preservation of archaeological objects. Therefore, the main objective of this work is the detailed understanding of the behaviour of Hg under conditions of fire gilding. I.e. the understanding of the diffusion and evaporating behaviour of Hg, depending on parameters like substrate material (silver, copper, bronze, brass...), heating temperature and duration, and the resulting Hg depth profiles under these conditions. Secondary objective is the establishment of a measurement protocol for the unambiguous identification of different types of gilding, based solely on non-destructive methods, which can be applied to historical samples.
In a first step, fire-gilded samples have been prepared on Cu and Ag sheet metal, respectively. Some of the gildings were produced by a professional goldsmith; another set of samples was produced under laboratory conditions. These samples have been examined with NAA (neutron activation analysis) and SR-XRF (synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence). First results of these measurements will be presented and discussed.
Short-range order has been investigated in Zr69.5Cu12Ni11Al7.5 and Zr41.5Ti41.5Ni17 metallic glasses using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. While both of these alloys are good glass formers, there is a difference in their glass-forming abilities (Zr41.5Ti41.5Ni17 > Zr69.5Cu12Ni11Al7.5). This difference is explained by inciting the relative importance of strong chemical order, icosahedral content, cluster symmetry and configuration diversity.
The use of polycapillary optics in confocal micro-X-ray fluorescence analysis (CMXRF) enables the destruction-free 3D investigation of the elemental composition of samples. The energy-dependent transmission properties, concerning intensity and spatial beam propagation of three polycapillary half lenses, which are vital for the quantitative interpretation of such CMXRF measurements, are investigated in a monochromatic confocal laboratory setup at the Atominstitut of TU Wien, and a synchrotron setup on the BAMline beamline at the BESSY II Synchrotron, Helmholtz-Zentrum-Berlin. The empirically established results, concerning the intensity of the transmitted beam, are compared with theoretical values calculated with the polycap software package and a newly presented analytical model for the transmission function.
The resulting form of the newly modelled energy-dependent transmission function is shown to be in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulated results for the complete energy regime, as well as the empirically established results for the energy regime between 6 keV and 20 keV. An analysis of possible fabrication errors was conducted via pinhole scans showing only minor fabrication errors in two of the investigated polycapillary optics. The energy-dependent focal spot size of the primary polycapillary was investigated in the laboratory via the channel-wise evaluation of knife-edge scans. Experimental results are compared with data given by the manufacturer as well as geometric estimations for the minimal focal spot size. Again, the resulting measurement points show a trend in agreement with geometrically estimated results and manufacturer data.
This contribution provides an overview of the BAMline synchrotron radiation beamline, which specializes in hard X-ray spectroscopy techniques for materials research. The BAMline offers X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and tomography to study materials' electronic structure, chemical composition, and structure. Key capabilities include standard and dispersive XAS for electronic structure, micro-XRF for elemental mapping, coded aperture imaging, and depth-resolved grazing exit XAS. The BAMline enables in situ characterization during materials synthesis and functions for energy, catalysis, corrosion, biology, and cultural heritage applications.
Ongoing developments like the implementation of machine learning techniques for experiment optimization and data analysis will be discussed. For instance, Bayesian optimization is being used to improve beamline alignment and scanning. An outlook to the future, where the BAMline will continue pioneering dynamic and multi-scale characterization, aided by advanced data science methods, to provide unique insights into materials research, will be given.
Fourteen hollow and one cast anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines produced in Incan times for ritual offerings from the Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin were selected to investigate the technologies and alloys used for their fabrication with portable optical microscopy and non-destructive XRF elemental analysis. This group of gold and silver figurines includes typical specimens of the Inca production, such as the four silver figurines from the Island Coati in Lake Titicaca and the two gold figurines from Pachacamac, as well as specimens that are seldom present in collections, which makes them atypical. In addition to the tall figurines with atypical hair or standing pose, one bicolour figurine half silver, half gold) and another with coloured inlays were included in this study for comparison. The large majority of the silver specimens are made from very high quality alloys and the gold figurines are made from alloys containing low copper contents and silver ranging from 30wt% to 52wt%.
We report on the trace analysis of copper and iron impurities in multicrystalline silicon wafers with the microbeam X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) technique. The efficiency of solar cells, which are based on multicrystalline silicon wafers, is strongly influenced by minor contamination with metals such as copper and iron. Application of compound refractive lenses (CRLs) in µ-XRF allows versatile two-dimensional mapping of relevant contaminations and localization of their sites of deposition. In this context, the measured bulk average limit of detection (LOD) was one picogram of iron and copper per gram of silicon. We suggest that µ-XRF is a valuable tool for non-destructive spatial (3D) quantification of metal impurities in a wide range of materials and devices whose functioning could be critically affected by impurities.
Partial least squares (PLS) regression-based methods have been proven to be a good alternative for quantification in X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. These methods are fast and easy to use though giving satisfactory results under certain conditions. One of these conditions is the necessity of having a great number of spectra to build the model (training set). The choice of the constituent concentration range in the training set has a big influence on the accuracy of the model. Better accuracy is obtained if the model is built in relatively narrow regions containing (or close to) the real concentration value.
In the present work, Monte Carlo (MC) simulated spectra are used to form the training set. The advantage to use MC generated training spectra is the unlimited availability of perfect standards.
This paper aims to improve the accuracy of the method by introducing a multiple step procedure in order to build the PLS model using narrow concentration range close to (or containing) the real concentration values in the samples to be measured.
This approach consists of an initial guess of the constituents' concentrations and a preliminary PLS model before building the final model. The prediction of ten MC simulated alloy standard samples containing Ti, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zr, and Mo using this method allowed to have average relative prediction errors less than 5% for elements with narrow concentration ranges.
High Speed, High Resolution imaging spectrometers based on pnCCDs for XRF and XRD applications
(2016)
For many years pnCCDs have been well known as X-ray detectors for spectroscopic imaging in many fields of science: X-Ray Fluorescence analysis (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) with light sources in large accelerator facilities as well as with laboratory light sources or with X-rays from celestial sources in X-ray astronomy. A brief introduction in GEXRF (Grazing Emission XRF) measurements with a laboratory laser produced plasma source will be given, PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) measurements and D2XRF (Double Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence) and Slicing experiments with pnCCDs coupled to polycapillary optics performed at the BESSY synchrotron will be shown. Energy-dispersive Laue diffraction with ultra-hard X-rays for the analysis of defects in metals will conclude the overview of spectroscopic X-ray imaging measurements in the field of structure and dynamics of matter.
Studies by Synchrotron Radiation-X-Ray Fluorescence (SR-XRF) for the search of the presence of trace elements like Sb, Sn, Te and Pb in archaeological metallic objects found on the territory of Romania-old coins and Bronze Age jewelry, aimed to determine the provenance of the gold used in their manufacture. The results are compared with the detailed elemental composition of alluvial or primary gold samples, obtained by the same technique. This work attempted to establish the origin of the gold used for the mint of two different types of koson coins. We found that the kosons with monogram are made of refined gold, while the one used for the kosons without monogram is mainly alluvial. The gold used in the manufacture of the Calarasi Vulchitrun-type disk and the Tauteu hair ring is also of alluvial origin.
To gain insight into the possible origin of the gold used in the production of tesserae containing gold leaf less than 0.5 μm thick placed between two layers of glass, we propose a non-destructive synchrotron radiation (SR) XRF protocol based on sequential analysis under optimised analytical conditions. Using this protocol, trace element analysis is achieved with detection limits of 1–6 mg/kg. As Pt and Au have adjacent fluorescence energies, we tested the most challenging situation, when Pt is present in very low concentrations in gold. Data obtained by double-dispersive XRF (D2XRF) and μXRF for fourth–ninth-century mosaics decorating nine Eastern and Western religious buildings show that the Eastern and Western tesserae are made from different alloys.
However, these alloys are identical to those used to make gold leaf for gilding, because plastic deformation requires the use of gold alloys with high ductility and malleability. Although trace element composition of gold used in the concerned period is only available for coins, by comparing the amounts of Pt contained in the tesserae and in the coins we show that Roman tesserae are made from Roman gold, as described in the documentary sources. We observe for the Byzantine period the use of a Byzantine gold and of gold supposedly from different stages of recycling, and we suggest the use of Umayyad and Abbasid gold for the production of Islamic tesserae.
Getting more efficient – The use of Bayesian optimization and Gaussian processes at the BAMline
(2022)
For more than 20 years, BAM is operating the BAMline at the synchrotron BESSY II in Berlin Adlershof. During this time, the complexity of the setup and the amount of data generated have multiplied. To increase the effectiveness and in preparation for BESSY III, algorithms from the field of machine learning are increasingly used.
In this paper, several examples in the areas of beamline alignment and measurement time optimization based on Bayesian optimization (BO) with Gaussian processes (GP) are presented. BO is a method for finding the global optimum of a function using a probabilistic model represented by a GP. The advantage of this method is that it can handle high-dimensional problems, does not depend on the initial estimate, and also provides uncertainty estimates.
After a short introduction to BO and GP, the first example is the automatic alignment of our double multilayer monochromator (DMM). To achieve optimal performance, up to three linear and two angular motor positions have to be optimized. To achieve this with a grid scan, at least 100^5 measurement points would be required. Assuming that all positions can be aligned independently, 100*5 points are still necessary. We show that with BO and GP less than 100 points are sufficient to achieve equal or better results.
The second example is the optimization of measurement time in XRF scanning. Here we will show the advantage of the BO GP approach over point-by-point scanning. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the number of points required and thus the measurement time can be reduced by a factor of 50, while the loss in image quality is acceptable. The advantages and limitations of this approach will be discussed.
Getting more efficient – The use of Bayesian optimization and Gaussian processes at the BAMline
(2022)
For more than 20 years, BAM is operating the BAMline at the synchrotron BESSY II in Berlin Adlershof. During this time, the complexity of the setup and the amount of data generated have multiplied. To increase the effectiveness and in preparation for BESSY III, algorithms from the field of machine learning are increasingly used.
After a short introduction to BO and GP, the first example is the automatic alignment of our double multilayer monochromator (DMM).
The second example is the optimization of measurement time in XRF scanning.
Within an interdisciplinary project, preliminary results of which were published in 2007, a group of 65 silver coins (denarii) of Trajan, evenly distributed over the entire span of his reign (2nd to 6th consulate), as well as 3 coins from the reign of his predecessor, the emperor Nerva (AD 9698), had been acquired on the coin market. These pieces could be cross-sectioned in order to carry out analyses. Measurements were performed with µ-XRF and µ-SRXRF to check the fineness of the denarius alloy as well as to investigate if the coins of the different consulates showed distinct traits concerning the main impurities which could suggest a change of ore sources. Furthermore, it was examined whether the influx of precious metals into the Roman treasury after Trajan's Dacian campaigns (AD 101/102 and 105/106) could have had any repercussions on the composition of the denarius alloy; comparative data was provided by the analysis of nine imitations of Roman Republican denarii presumably struck in Dacia. Documentation of the cross-sections was performed with SEM/EDX in order to clarify details concerning the specific microstructure of the coins. An enrichment of Ag of approx. 100 to 200 µm in the near surface regions of most of the coins could be observed, which is due to corrosion effects. Previous metallographic analyses done by several scholars had been inadequate to clarify the central numismatic and economic questions. With the presented analyses, it was possible to correct the results of the earlier research and to provide, for the first time, a secure basis of data for the investigation of the development of the silver alloy used for denarii in Trajan's reign.
The nature of the support can fundamentally affect the function of a heterogeneous catalyst. For the novel type of isolated metal atom catalysts, sometimes referred to as single‐atom catalysts, systematic correlations are still rare. Here, we report a general finding that Pd on nitride supports (non‐metal and metal nitride) features a higher oxidation state compared to that on oxide supports (non‐metal and metal oxide). Through thorough oxidation state investigations by X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), CO‐DRIFTS, and density functional theory (DFT) coupled with Bader charge analysis, it is found that Pd atoms prefer to interact with surface hydroxyl group to form a Pd(OH)x species on oxide supports, while on nitride supports, Pd atoms incorporate into the surface structure in the form of Pd−N bonds. Moreover, a correlation was built between the formal oxidation state and computational Bader charge, based on the periodic trend in electronegativity.
Gold is one of the seven metals already known in antiquity and was used from time immemorial as a medium of exchange and for the production of jewelry because of its luster and rarity. In addition, it is easy to work and largely resistant to chemical influences. Investigations of gold using synchrotron radiation excited X-ray fluorescence analysis are non-destructive and provide information about the chemical elements present in the sample under investigation. The investigations presented here at BAMline focus on questions such as the origin, manufacturing process, and association of gold findings. The different questions are explained by a number of examples ranging from the Viking treasure from Hiddensee to the Nebra Sky Disk and finds from Egypt. The find from Bernstorf is discussed in detail. A Bayesian treatment of the authenticity is shown.
Spatially resolved X-ray fluorescence analysis using synchrotron radiation (SR-XRF) at the wavelength shifter beamline, BAMline, at BESSY was used to investigate Renaissance silverpoint drawings as it is extremely sensitive, non-destructive and can be carried out in air using an excitation spot in the hundred micrometer range.
This paper deals with first results of the study of silverpoint drawings of Albrecht Dürer (14711528) belonging to the sketchbook that Albrecht Dürer used during a travel to the Netherlands in 1520/21. These results are compared to a PIXE study performed on drawings from the same sketchbook.
The minor element composition of the silverpoint used for the drawings in the sketchbook was (10.6 ± 3.5) wt.% of Cu and traces of Zn. Mercury was found in the marks but does not belong to the initial composition of the silverpoint as it is attributed to an alteration phenomenon. One drawing of the sketchbook represents an exception. It consists of silver marks containing an additional minor element, Zn, in the marks and was, therefore, created with another silverpoint, probably at a different time than the other drawings.
Gold mosaics, made from gold and glass, are one of the best expressions of Late Antique Byzantine and Early Islamic art. The gold alloys, whose composition seems to indicate that gold coins were re-used to fabricate the tesserae, can be used to provide information on the mosaics chronology. Monetary Byzantine gold is in fact characterized by the presence of Pt, which contents in the gold alloy change over time, but Pt must be measured in 0.2-0.4 µm thickness gold leaves that were beaten to be sandwiched between two glass layers.
To analyze this samples the D²XRF set-up at the BAMline at the BESSY synchrotron in Berlin was used. The combination of a crystal for wavelength dispersion and an energy resolving single photon counting pnCCD allows the realization of this very simple wavelength dispersive detection system. With this system an MDL of 1 μg/g for the determination of Pt in Au under optimal conditions can be reached.
Gold leaf tesserae from nine archaeological sites, covering the period that goes from the 5th c. to the 8th c., were analyzed. The presence of Pt in the majority of the samples confirmed the re-use of coins. The Pt contents separate the samples in three groups, one of which having the same chemical characteristics as the Byzantine gold could be compared to dated coins for chronology. The higher Pt contents for one of other groups suggest
The newly developed EXAFS set-up comprises both time- and spatially-resolved EXAFS information simultaneously in a single-shot. This facile, stable and scanningless set-up was tested at the BAMline @ BESSY-II (Berlin, Germany). The primary broadband beam is generated by a filter/X-ray-mirror combination (bandpass). The transmitted beam through the sample is diffracted by a convexly bent Si (111) crystal, producing a divergent beam. This, in turn, is collected by an area sensitive detector based on a CCD camera, in a theta - 2 theta geometry.
The first in situ measurements were successfully carried out and hereby presented. The case-study involved a well known reaction, in which structural changes are induced over time, and continuously measured. We were able to track structural changes within a 1s time resolution.
Trace elements of ancient gold such as Pt, give fundamental information on the circulation of the metal in the past. In the case of objects from the cultural heritage, the determination of trace elements requires non-destructive point analysis in general. These conditions and the need of good detection limits restrain the number of applicable analytical techniques.
After the development of a PIXE set-up with a selective Cu or Zn filter of 75 µm and of a PIXE-XRF set-up using a primary target of As, we tested the possibilities of spatially resolved Sy-XRF to determine Pt in gold alloys. With a Zn filter, PIXE showed a detection limit of 1000 ppm in gold while PIXE-XRF lowers this detection limit down to 80 ppm. This last value being constrained by the resonant Raman effect produced on gold. In order to improve the detection limit of Pt keeping the non-destructiveness and access to point analysis, we developed an analytical protocol for XRF with synchrotron radiation at BESSY II, using the BAMline set-up. The L-lines of Pt were excited by a beam of energy above and below 11.564 keV and measured using a Si(Li) detector with a 50 µm Cu filter. A µ-beam of 100250 µm2 was used according to the size of the sample. The determination of the Pt content in the samples was carried out by Monte-Carlo simulation and subtraction of Au and Pt spectra obtained on pure standards. The limit of detection for Pt of 20 ppm was determined by using certified standards. The detection limits of a small set of other characteristic elements of gold were also measured using an incident energy of 33 keV.
This research group has been demonstrating the significant advantages of using Nb2O5 coatings for functionalizing titanium, aluminium, and stainless steels. Regarding the biomedical sector and considering Ti-6Al-4V alloy, the reactive sputtering technique improved the cell viability, the osteogenic performance of cells involved in the osseointegration process as well as the ability to delay bacterial proliferation. The characteristics of the Nb2O5 coatings were assessed before by using standard methods, which provide information only a few tens of nanometers depth. Given that the Nb2O5 coating fabricated in this work exhibits a thickness of approximately 300 nm, the GE-XANES technique emerges as the most suitable method for this analysis. Additional information was provided with the aid of nanoindentation load-depth (P-h) curves. GE-XANES results indicated the formation of a homogeneous layer of Nb2O5 coating on the Ti-6Al-4V surfaces. The deposition process improved the surface hardness of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy (4.38 GPa versus 5.62 GPa) considering the 2 mN load.
In this study, we propose the use of nondestructive, depth-resolved, element-specific characterization using grazing exit X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (GE-XANES) to investigate the corrosion process in compositionally complex alloys (CCAs). By combining grazing exit X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (GE-XRF) geometry and a pnCCD detector, we provide a scanning-free, nondestructive, depth-resolved analysis in a sub-micrometer depth range, which is especially relevant for layered materials, such as corroded CCAs. Our setup allows for spatial and energy-resolved measurements and directly extracts the desired fluorescence line, free from scattering events and other overlapping lines. We demonstrate the potential of our approach on a compositionally complex CrCoNi alloy and a layered reference sample with known composition and specific layer thickness. Our findings indicate that this new GE-XANES approach has exciting opportunities for studying surface catalysis and corrosion processes in real-world materials.
EXAFS analysis of pure elements, binary and ternary equiatomic refractory alloys within the Nb-Zr-Ti-Hf- Ta system is performed at the Nb and Zr K-edges to analyze the evolution of the chemical local environ- ment and the lattice distortion. A good mixing of the elements is found at the atomic scale. For some compounds, a distribution of distances between the central atom and its neighbors suggests a distortion of the structure. Finally, analysis of the Debye-Waller parameters shows some correlation with the lat- tice distortion parameter δ², and allows to quantify experimentally the static disorder in medium entropy alloys.
Examples of XRF and PIXE imaging with few microns resolution using SLcam® a color X-ray camera
(2015)
We present results of recent development of the color X-ray camera, type SLcam®, allowing detection of X-ray images with few microns resolution. Such spectral resolution is achieved with the use of high-quality polycapillary optics combined with sub-pixel resolution. Imaging of Siemens star resolution test chart reveals that the resolution limit of SLcam® can go down to nearly 5µm. Several real sample examples of measurements carried out at the laboratory, synchrotron, and particle-induced X-ray emission beamlines are shown. This is the first time SLcam® is used as particle-induced X-ray emission detector.
A major source of capacity fade of the common vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is the vanadium ion transport through the separator. However, different transport models disagree significantly in the diffusion coefficient for the different V species and the influence of different transport mechanisms. The underlying hypothesis of this work is that reactions inside the membrane are partly responsible for these discrepancies. Accordingly, it was investigated if redox reactions inside the nanoscopic water body of Nafion 117 can occur. X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) was used to distinguish between the different V species inside hydrated Nafion 117 and novel PVDF-based membranes. It was validated that the speciation of vanadium can be performed using the pre-edge peak energy and intensity. The experiments were performed as follows: strips of the membrane were exposed from one site to a V3+ solution (green) and from the other site to a VO2+ solution (yellow). The ions could diffuse into the membrane from both sides. A change of color of the membrane strip was observed. The blue color in the middle of the strip indicated that VO2+ was formed where V3+ and VO2+ got in contact. Using XANES this reaction inside Nafion was proven.
Evaluation of total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis using a color X-ray camera (CXC)
(2013)
Gold ist eines der sieben schon im Altertum bekannten Metalle und wurde wg. seines Glanzes und seiner Seltenheit von alters her als Tauschmittel und zur Herstellung von Schmuck benutzt. Außerdem ist es einfach bearbeitbar und weitestgehend gegen chemische Einflüsse resistent.
Die Untersuchungen von Gold mit synchrotronstrahlungsangeregter Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse sind zerstörungsfrei und geben Auskunft über die in der untersuchten Probe vorhandenen chemischen Elemente.
Bei den hier vorgestellten Untersuchungen an der BAMline stehen Fragestellungen wie Herkunft, Herstellungsverfahren und Zusammengehörigkeit von Goldfunden im Vordergrund. Die verschiedenen Fragestellungen werden an einer Reihe von Beispielen erläutert die vom Wikingerschatz aus Hiddensee über die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra bis hin zu Funden aus Ägypten langen. Zusätzlich werden die modernen Messmethoden vorgestellt, die am Synchrotron heutzutage zur Verfügung stehen.
Enhancing efficiency at bamline: employing data science and machine learning for x-ray research
(2023)
This talk discusses how data science and machine learning techniques are being applied at the BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing to enhance efficiency and automation at the BAMLine synchrotron facility. The methods presented include Gaussian processes and Bayesian optimization for beamline adjustment and optimization of X-ray measurements. These statistical techniques allow automated alignment of beamline components and active learning scanning to reduce measurement time.
Additional machine learning methods covered are neural networks for quantification of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) data and decoding coded apertures.
Our aim is to develop a simple and inexpensive method for full field X-ray fluorescence imaging.We combine an energydispersive array detector with a coded aperture to obtain high resolut ion images. To obtain the information from the recorded image a reconstruction step is necessary. The reconstruction methods we have developed, were tested on simulated data and then applied to experimental data. The first tests were carried out at the BAMline @BESSY II. This method enables the simultaneous detection of multiple elements,which is important e.g. in the field of catalysis.
A liver biopsy specimen from a Wilson’s disease (WD) patient was analyzed by means of micro-X-ray fluorescence (mXRF) spectroscopy to determine the elemental distribution. First, bench-top mXRF was utilized for a coarse scan of the sample under laboratory conditions. The resulting distribution maps of copper and iron enabled the determination of a region of interest (ROI) for further analysis. In order to obtain more detailed elemental information, this ROI was analyzed by synchrotron radiation (SR)-based mXRF with a beam size of 4 mm offering a resolution at the cellular level. Distribution maps of additional elements to copper and iron like zinc and manganese were obtained due to a higher sensitivity of SR-mXRF. In addition to this, X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) was performed to identify the oxidation states of copper in WD. This speciation analysis indicated a mixture of copper(I) and copper(II) within the WD liver tissue.
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) measurement of thin-film thickness in the nanometre range
(2002)
The thickness of thin films of platinum and nickel on fused silica and silicon substrates has been determined by EPMA using the commercial software STRATAGEM for calculation of film thickness. Film thickness ranged in the order 10 nm. An attempt was made to estimate the confidence range of the method by comparison with results from other methods of analysis. The data show that in addition to the uncertainty of the spectral intensity measurement and the complicated fitting routine, systematic deviation caused by the underlying model should be added. The scattering in the results from other methods does not enable specification of a range of uncertainty, but deviations from the real thickness are estimated to be less than 20%.
Iodine is an essential trace element in the human diet because it is involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency affects over 2.2 billion people worldwide, making it a significant challenge to find plant-based sources of iodine that meet the recommended daily intake of this trace element. In this study, cabbage plants were cultivated in a hydroponic system containing iodine at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L in the form of potassium iodide or potassium iodate. During the experiments, plant physiological parameters, biomass production, and concentration changes of iodine and selected microelements in different plant parts were investigated. In addition, the oxidation state of the accumulated iodine in root samples was determined. Results showed that iodine addition had no effect on photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content. Iodide treatment did not considerably stimulate biomass production but iodate treatment increased it at concentrations less than 0.5 mg/L. Increasing iodine concentrations in the nutrient solutions increased iodine content in all plant parts; however, the iodide treatment was 2–7 times more efficient than the iodate treatment. It was concluded, that iodide addition was more favourable on the target element accumulation, however, it should be highlighted that application of this chemical form in nutrient solution decreased the concetrations of selected micoelement concentration comparing with the control plants. It was established that iodate was reduced to iodide during its uptake in cabbage roots, which means that independently from the oxidation number of iodine (+ 5, − 1) applied in the nutrient solutions, the reduced form of target element was transported to the aerial and edible tissues.
With the aim of improving limits of detection (LOD) of trace elements in a matrix with adjacent fluorescence energies, a simple double dispersive X-ray fluorescence detection system (D2XRF) was constructed to operate at the beamlines BAMline and the mySpot @ BESSY II. This system is based on the combination of a crystal analyzer with an energy resolving single photon counting pnCCD. Without further collimators, the efficient suppression of the background by the pnCCD and the good energy resolution of the crystal results in improved LOD. In first order reflections, an energy resolution of 13 eV for Cu Kα was reached, and an energy range of 1 keV was covered in one shot.
This new system was applied to the detection of platinum (Pt) in gold leaves with a LOD of 0.9 mg/kg, which is the lowest attained by totally non-destructive methods nowadays. The presence of Pt in gilded objects from Abydos and Byzantine mosaics provides vital information, as it indicates the alluvial origin of the gold for these examples.