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Organisationseinheit der BAM
Five distinct analytical techniques were compared for the quantification of the H2O (0·1-7·4 wt%) and D2O (up to 5·5 wt% D2O) contents in rhyolitic glasses. The hydrogen concentration in obsidians was measured using nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and converted into H2O concentration. The bulk water content (H2O+D2O) of synthesised glasses was determined using thermal extraction in conjunction with KarlFischer titration (KFT). Unextracted H2O was measured by infrared (IR) spectroscopy after remelting the KFT products at high pressure. These well characterised glasses were subsequently used to calibrate secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), infrared and evolved gas analysis (EGA). The calibrations of SIMS for H2O and D2O show a significant matrix effect at H2O and D2O concentrations larger than ~3 mol/l with the relative sensitivity factor (RSF) decreasing with bulk water content. Molar absorption coefficients for the OH stretching vibration band at 3570 cm-1 and the OD stretching vibration band at 2650 cm-1 in the infrared absorption spectra were reinvestigated. In the range 0·1-6 wt% the H2O content of glasses could be reproduced within analytical error using a constant linear molar absorption coefficient. However, it appears that the absorption coefficients for the 3570 cm-1 band as well as for the 2650 cm-1 band both decrease systematically with concentration of dissolved H2O and D2O (epsi3570=80 (±1) - 1·36(±0·23)CH2Ot and epsi2650=61·2(±1) - 2·52(± 0·30)CD2Ot). EGA allows quantification of the H2O content as well as the study of dehydration kinetics. It is shown that H2O is released under vacuum already at room temperature from glasses containing >7 wt% H2O.
Hydrogen analysis is of particular importance in thin film technology and it is often necessary to obtain a depth profile. The method with the best depth resolution is NRA using the 6385 keV resonance of the 1H(15N,αγ)12C nuclear reaction. The correct quantification of the depth and concentration scales in the measured hydrogen profiles relies on accurate stopping power values. We present a method to deduce these values from a combination of two techniques: NRA and X-ray reflectometry (XRR). This method is applied to the determination of the stopping power of ~6.4 MeV 15N ions in H-containing amorphous Si-layers (a-Si:H). Density-independent stopping powers at different H concentrations are determined by combining the results from NRA and XRR with an overall uncertainty of 3.3%, showing good agreement with SRIM values. This work shows exemplary the methodology for future evaluation of stopping powers for quality assurance in NRA.
In many areas of material sciences, hydrogen analysis is of particular importance. For example, hydrogen is most abundant as impurity in thin film materials depending on the deposition process and has great influence on the chemical, physical and electrical properties of many materials. Existing bulk reference materials (RMs) are not suited for surface sensitive analytical methods like elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) or nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). To overcome this serious lack of (certified) thin-layer reference materials for the determination of hydrogen in the near-surface region (12 µm depth), we produced stable, homogeneous amorphous silicon layers on Si-wafers (aSi:HSi) by means of chemical vapour deposition (CVD), while about 10% of hydrogen was incorporated in the Si-layer. Homogeneity and stability were proved by NRA whereas traceability of reference values has been assured by an international interlaboratory comparison.
Hydrogen is present in anhydrous materials as a result of their synthesis and of their environment during conservation. IBA provides techniques to measure H concentration depth profiles allowing to identify various aspects of the materials including the history of objects such as gemstones used in cultural heritage.
A newly established ERDA set-up, using an external microbeam of alpha particles, has been developed to study hydrated near-surface layers in quartz and sapphire by non-destructive H depth profiling in different atmospheres. The samples were also analysed using resonant NRA and SIMS.
Modern design of superior multi-functional alloys composed of several principal components requires in-depth studies of their local structure for developing desired macroscopic properties. Herein, peculiarities of atomic arrangements on the local scale and electronic states of constituent elements in the single-phase face-centered cubic (fcc)- and body-centered cubic (bcc)-structured high-entropy Alx-CrFeCoNi alloys (x = 0.3 and 3, respectively) are explored by element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy in hard and soft X-ray energy ranges. Simulations based on the reverse Monte Carlo approach allow to perform a simultaneous fit of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra recorded at K absorption edges of each 3d constituent and to reconstruct the local environment within the first coordination shells of absorbers with high precision. The revealed unimodal and bimodal distributions of all five elements are in agreement with structure-dependent magnetic properties of studied alloys probed by magnetometry. A degree of surface atoms oxidation uncovered by soft X-rays suggests different kinetics of oxide formation for each type of constituents and has to be taken into account. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism technique employed at L2,3 absorption edges of transition metals demonstrates reduced magnetic moments of 3d metal constituents in the sub-Surface region of in situ cleaned fcc-structured Al0.3-CrFeCoNi compared to their bulk values. Extended to nanostructured versions of multicomponent alloys, such studies would bring new insights related to effects of high entropy mixing on low dimensions.
To better study the impact of nanoparticles on both in vitro and in vivo models, tissue distribution and cellular doses need to be described more closely. Here silver nanoparticles were visualized in alveolar macrophages by means of synchrotron radiation micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SR-μXRF) with high spatial resolution of 3 × 3 μm2. For the spatial allocation of silver signals to cells and tissue structures, additional elemental labeling was carried out by staining with eosin, which binds to protein and can be detected as bromine signal with SR-μXRF. The method was compatible with immunostaining of macrophage antigens. We found that the silver distribution obtained with SR-μXRF was largely congruent with distribution maps from a subsequent laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) of the same tissue sites. The study shows a predominant, though not exclusive uptake of silver into alveolar macrophages in the rat lung, which can be modeled by a similar uptake in cultured alveolar macrophages. Advantages and limitations of the different strategies for measuring nanoparticle uptake at the single cell level are discussed.
The adsorption behavior of Platinum nanoparticles was studied for the as-received catalyst (under inert gas), under hydrogen and CO atmosphere using our newly designed in-situ cell. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments were performed simultaneously with high data quality. Structural information and the type of adsorbate could be revealed via Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) analysis, Dl X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure analysis (Dl XANES) and in-situ DRIFTS. The as-received catalyst showed sub-surface oxygen and O(n-fold). Under CO atmosphere only CO(atop) was found. Reversible adsorbate induced changes of the Pt nanoparticle structure were derived from changes in the PtAPt coordination number and the corresponding bond distance. Under reducing conditions (H2, CO) a significant increase in both values occurred. Temperature dependent desorption of CO revealed a gradual shift from PtACO to PtAO. Reoxidation was clearly assigned to strong metal support interaction from the SiO2 support.
Nickel nanoparticles are an active research area due to their multiple applications as catalysts in different processes. A variety of preparation techniques have been reported for the synthesis of these nanoparticles, including solvothermal, microwave-assisted, and emulsion techniques. The well-studied solvothermal oleylamine synthesis route comes with the drawback of needing standard air-free techniques and often space-consuming glassware. Here, we present a facile and straightforward synthesis method for size-controlled highly monodisperse nickel nanoparticles avoiding the use of, e.g., Schlenk techniques and space-consuming labware. The nanoparticles produced by this novel synthetic route were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray spectroscopy. The nanoparticles were in a size range of 4–16 nm, show high sphericity, no oxidation, and no agglomeration after synthesis.
The present study investigates early stages of ZIF-8 crystallization up to 5 minutes post mixing of precursor solutions. Dispersive X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (DXAS) provides a refined understanding of the evolution of the coordination environment during ZIF-8 crystallization. Linear Combination Fiting (LCF) suggests tetrakis(1-methylimidazole)zinc2+ to be a suitable and stable mononuclear structure analogue for some early stage ZIF-8 intermediates. Our results pave the way for more detailed studies on physico-chemical aspects of ZIF-8 crystallization to better control tailoring ZIF-8 materials for specific applications.
A new concept that comprises both time- and lateral-resolved X-ray absorption fine-structure information simultaneously in a single shot is presented. This uncomplicated set-up was tested at the BAMline at BESSY-II (Berlin, Germany). The primary broadband beam was generated by a double multilayer monochromator. 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 either an energy-sensitive area detector, the so-called color X-ray camera, or by an area-sensitive detector based on a CCD camera, in θ–2θ geometry. The first tests were performed with thin metal foils and some iron oxide mixtures. A time resolution of lower than 1 s together with a spatial resolution in one dimension of at least 50 mm is achieved.
A combined analysis of EXAFS and Raman spectra is applied for the study of
InxGa1-xN alloys with 0.3<x<0.5. Alloying causes relaxation of the selection rules resulting in
Raman spectra that resemble the vibrational density of states. On the other hand, theoretical
simulation of the Raman spectra using the Equation of Motion routine of FEFF8 provides the
vibrational component of the Debye-Waller factor (DWF). The static disorder component of
the DWFs was obtained by fitting the Ga and In K-edge EXAFS spectra. The analysis revealed
that the nearest neighbor distances of the 1st and 2nd shell deviate from the values predicted by
the law of Vegard and the virtual crystal approximation. The static disorder in the first nearest
neighboring shell (In-N and Ga-N) is null whereas in the cation-cation neighboring shells the
static component is generally smaller than the vibrational.
We describe a fast and effective synthesis for molecular metal phosphonates. Isomorphic compounds [M(II)(HO₃PPh)₂(H₂O₃PPh)₂(H₂O)₂] (M = Mn (1), Co (2), Ni (3); Ph = C₆H₅) were obtained by grinding. The complexes are mononuclear compounds containing neutral and monodeprotonated phenylphosphonic acid and water as ligands. The crystal structures were determined using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data and validated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data. Combined synchrotron XRD measurements and Raman spectroscopy were conducted for investigating the reactions in situ. Based on these data, the intermediates were characterized and the formation mechanism was derived.
Fingerprinting ancient gold work requires the use of nondestructive techniques with high spatial resolution (down to 25 µm) and good detection limits (micrograms per gram level). In this work experimental setups and protocols for synchrotron radiation induced X-ray fluorescence (SRXRF) at the BAMline of the Berlin electron storage ring company for synchrotron radiation (BESSY) in Berlin for the measurement of characteristic trace elements of gold are compared considering the difficulties, shown in previous works, connected to the quantification of Pt. The best experimental conditions and calculation methods were achieved by using an excitation energy of 11.58 keV, a silicon drift chamber detector (SDD) detector, and pure element reference standards. A detection limit of 3 µg/g has been reached. This newly developed method was successfully applied to provenancing the Xiongnu gold from the Gol Mod necropolis, excavated under the aegis of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The composition of the base alloys and the presence of Pt and Sn showed that, contrary to what is expected, the gold foils from the first powerful empire of the steppes along the Great Wall were produced with alluvial gold from local placer deposits located in Zaamar, Boroo, and in the Selenga River.
A set of ten calibration materials based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer (ABS) containing the elements Br, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Hg was produced in order to control polymer samples in regard to the restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances (RoHS) directive. The materials were produced with respect to the special demands of X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in combination with laser ablation (LA-ICP-MS).
The mass fractions of all elements were 0-1500 mg/kg and the materials were produced as granulates and solid discs with a diameter of 40 mm and thicknesses of 1, 2, and 6 mm. It could be shown that the signals measured by XRF strongly depend on the thickness of polymeric samples.
Macroscopic homogeneity was assessed with XRF measuring a total of 180 samples. The microscopic homogeneities were determined for a material with average elemental mass fractions with the aid of synchrotron radiation (SR) µ-XRF and LA-ICP-MS. Sufficient macroscopic and microscopic homogeneities for all elements could be achieved. It was observed that organic additives show a better homogeneity than oxides.
XRF and LA-ICP-MS were successfully calibrated with the new materials. Limits of detection were in the range of 0.4-22 mg/kg for XRF and 2.3-26.8 mg/kg for LA-ICP-MS. The materials are considered as candidate reference materials (RM) by the Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing (BAM, Germany).
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.
In the determination of the provenance of gold in archaeological artifacts, trace elements are more significant than the main components. Several minute fragments of natural Carpathian gold-placer and primary-and some very small (a few milligrams) fragments of archaeological items were studied using micro Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (micro SR-XRF) at the BESSY Synchrotron Facility in Berlin, Germany. The goal of the study was to identify the trace elements characterizing Carpathian gold, looking especially at Sn, Sb, Pb and Te, and to determine if the gold in the archaeological items is native or refined. Applications to the authentication and provenance of nine Dacian gold bracelets, koson coins and two Bronze Age items are presented.
The crystal structures and syntheses of four different copper(II) phenylphosphonates, the monophenylphosphonates α-, β-, and γ-Cu(O3PC6H5)·H2O (α-CuPhPmH (1) β-CuPhPmH (2) and γ-CuPhPmH (3)), and the diphosphonate Cu(HO3PC6H5)2·H2O (CuPhP2mH (4)), are presented. The compounds were synthesized from solution at room temperature, at elevated temperature, under hydrothermal conditions, and mechanochemical conditions. The structures of α-CuPhPmH (1) and CuPhP2mH (4) were solved from powder X-ray diffraction data. The structure of β-CuPhPmH (2) was solved by single crystal X-ray analysis. The structures were validated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and DTA analyses. Disorder of the crystal structure was elucidated by electron diffraction. The relationship between the compounds and their reaction pathways were investigated by in situ synchrotron measurements.
The adsorption behavior of Platinum nanoparticles was studied for the as-received catalyst (under inert gas), under hydrogen and CO atmosphere using our newly designed in-situ cell. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments were performed simultaneously with high data quality. Structural information and the type of adsorbate could be revealed via Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) analysis, Δμ X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure analysis (Δμ XANES) and in-situ DRIFTS. The as-received catalyst showed sub-surface oxygen and O(n-fold). Under CO atmosphere only CO(atop) was found. Reversible adsorbate induced changes of the Pt nanoparticle structure were derived from changes in the Pt-Pt coordination number and the corresponding bond distance. Under reducing conditions (H2, CO) a significant increase in both values occurred. Temperature dependent desorption of CO revealed a gradual shift from Pt-CO to Pt-O. Reoxidation was clearly assigned to strong metal support interaction from the SiO2 support.
Trace element concentrations in gold grains from various geological units in South Africa were measured in situ by field emission-electron probe microanalysis (FE-EPMA), laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and synchrotron micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SR-µ-XRF). This study assesses the accuracy, precision and detection limits of these mostly non-destructive analytical methods using certified reference materials and discusses their application in natural sample measurement. FE-EPMA point analyses yielded reproducible and discernible concentrations for Au and trace concentrations of S, Cu, Ti, Hg, Fe and Ni, with detection limits well below the actual concentrations in the gold. LA-ICP-MS analyses required larger gold particles (> 60 µm) to avoid contamination during measurement. Elements that measured above detection limits included Ag, Cu, Ti, Fe, Pt, Pd, Mn, Cr, Ni, Sn, Hg, Pb, As and Te, which can be used for geochemical characterisation and gold fingerprinting. Although LA-ICP-MS measurements had lower detection limits, precision was lower than FE-EPMA and SR-µ-XRF. The higher variability in absolute values measured by LA-ICP-MS, possibly due to micro-inclusions, had to be critically assessed. Non-destructive point analyses of gold alloys by SR-µ-XRF revealed Ag, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Ti, Sb, U, Cr, Co, As, Y and Zr in the various gold samples. Detection limits were mostly lower than those for elements measured by FE-EPMA, but higher than those for elements measured by LA-ICP-MS.
Recent results from a three-year multi-disciplinary project on Ancient Egyptian gold jewellery revealed that items of jewellery from the Middle Kingdom to the New Kingdom were manufactured using a variety of alluvial gold alloys. These alloys cover a wide range of colours and the majority contain Platinum Group Elements inclusions. However, in all the gold foils analysed, these inclusions were found to be absent. In this work a selection of gilded wood and leather items and gold foil fragments, all from the excavations by John Garstang at Abydos (primarily from Middle Kingdom graves), were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Disperse Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-Ray Fluorescence (µXRF), Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (µPIXE) and Double Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (D²XRF). The work allowed us to characterise the composition of the base-alloys and also to reveal the presence of Pt at trace levels, confirming the use of alluvial gold deposits. Corrosion products were also investigated in the foils where surface tarnish was visually observed. Results showed that the differences in the colour of corrosion observed for the foils are related not only to the thickness of the corrosion layer but also to a multi-layer structure containing the various corrosion products.
Absorption effects in total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis are important to consider, especially if external calibration is to be applied. With a color X-ray camera (CXC), that enables spatially and energy resolved XRF analysis, the absorption of the primary beam was directly visualized for mL-droplets and an array of pL-droplets printed on a Si-wafer with drop-on-demand technology. As expected, deposits that are hit by the primary beam first shade subsequent droplets, leading to a diminished XRF signal. This shading effect was quantified with enhanced precision making use of sub-pixel analysis that improves the spatial resolution of the camera. The measured absorption was compared to simulated results using three different model calculations. It was found they match very well (average deviation < 10%). Thus errors in quantification due to absorption effects can be accounted for in a more accurate manner.
The reaction of iron chlorides with an alkaline reagent is one of the most prominent methods for the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles. We studied the particle formation mechanism using triethanolamine as reactant and stabilizing agent. In situ fast-X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering provide information on the oxidation state and the structural information at the same time. In situ data were complemented by ex situ transmission electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray scattering and Raman analysis of the formed nanoparticles. The formation of maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3) from ferric and ferrous chloride was investigated. Prior to the formation of these nanoparticles, the formation and conversion of intermediate phases (akaganeite, iron(II, III) hydroxides) was observed which undergoes a morphological and structural collapse. The thus formed small magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) grow further and convert to maghemite with increasing reaction time.
A new concept that comprises both time- and lateral-resolved X-ray absorption fine-structure information simultaneously in a single shot is presented. This uncomplicated set-up was tested at the BAMline at BESSY-II (Berlin, Germany). The primary broadband beam was generated by a double multilayer monochromator. 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 either an energy-sensitive area detector, the so-called color X-ray camera, or by an area-sensitive detector based on a CCD camera, in θ-2θ geometry. The first tests were performed with thin metal foils and some iron oxide mixtures. A time resolution of lower than 1 s together with a spatial resolution in one dimension of at least 50 µm is achieved.
Slicing - a new method for non destructive 3D elemental sensitive characterization of materials
(2014)
Recent advances in synchrotron sources and detector technology have led to substantial improvements in spatial resolution and detection limits for X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). However, the non-destructive three-dimensional elemental sensitive characterization of samples remains a challenge. We demonstrate the use of the so-called 'Color X-ray Camera' (CXC) for 3D measurements for the first time. The excitation of the sample is realized with a thin sheet-beam. The stepwise movement of the sample allows getting the elemental distribution for each layer with one measurement. These layers can be combined to a full 3D dataset for each element afterwards. Since the information is collected layer by layer, there is no need to apply reconstruction techniques, which quite often are the reason for artifacts in the results achieved by computed tomography (CT). The field of applications is wide, as the 3D elemental distribution of a material contains clues to processes inside the samples from a variety of origins. The technique is of special interest and well suited for biological specimens, because their light matrix minimizes restricting absorption effects. Measurement examples of a hornet and the teeth of a Sorex araneus are shown.
In a color X-ray camera spatial resolution is achieved by means of a polycapillary optic conducting X-ray photons from small regions on a sample to distinct energy dispersive pixels on a CCD matrix. At present, the resolution limit of color X-ray camera systems can go down to several microns and is mainly restricted by Pixel dimensions. The recent development of an efficient subpixel resolution algorithm allows a release from pixel size, limiting the resolution only to the quality of theoptics. In this work polycapillary properties that influence the spatial resolution are systematized and assessed both theoretically and experimentally. It is demonstrated that with the current technological Level reaching one micron resolution is challenging, but possible.
A study regarding the possibility to use compound refractive lenses (CRLs) for X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was conducted. For XAS measurements the energy of the monochromatic incident beam has to be tuned over an energy range which is broader than the energy bandwidth of a CRL. To prove that µ-XAS with compound refractive lenses is possible, it had to be investigated how changes in the energy influence the beam parameters. This was done by tuning the energy around the nominal energy of the lens and recording images with a high resolution X-ray imaging setup. To investigate the changes in the spot size the scintillator was placed at the nominal focal distance and scans along the beam axis were performed. The effect on the photon flux of the incident beam due to absorption in the lens was investigated by performing XANES measurement on different reference materials with and without CRL. The results of these measurements using a CRL designed for 9 keV are shown and discussed.
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.
The aim of the present study is to characterize emeralds from different mines of Brazil by using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence Microanalysis (µ-SRXRF). The advantage of this technique is that we can analyze a homogeneous, inclusion free area of the stone with the microbeam to distinguish the elemental fingerprint according to the provenance of the emerald. A total of 47 samples belonging to 5 different Brazilian mines were studied in this work and 28 elements were identified. By means of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) it is possible to build different groups according to the provenance of the stones, which allows to assign samples of unknown origin to the according mine.
The content of chromium in different oxidation states in chromium-treated wood was studied with XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) measurements at the Cr K absorption edge. It could be shown that wood samples treated with Cr(VI) (pine and beech) did still contain a measurable content of Cr(VI) after four weeks conditioning. If such wood samples were heat exposed for 2 h with 135 °C prior conditioning, Cr(VI) was no longer detected by XANES, indicating a complete reduction to chromium (III).
Absorption effects and the impact of specimen shape on TXRF analysis has been discussed intensively. Model calculations indicated that ring shaped specimens should give better results in terms of higher counts per mass signals than filled rectangle or circle shaped specimens. One major reason for the difference in signal is shading effects. Full field micro-XRF with a color X-ray camera (CXC) was used to investigate shading, which occurs when working with small angles of excitation as in TXRF. The device allows monitoring the illuminated parts of the sample and the shaded parts at the same time. It is expected that sample material hit first by the primary beam shade material behind it. Using the CXC shading could be directly visualized for the high concentration specimens.
In order to compare the experimental results with calculation of the shading effect the generation of controlled specimens is crucial. This was achieved by 'drop on demand' technology. It allows generating uniform, microscopic deposits of elements. The experimentally measured shadings match well with those expected from calculation.
A set of compound refractive lenses (CRLs), mounted on a silicon wafer, was obtained from the Institut für Mikrostrukturtechnik Karlsruhe. The CRLs were characterized at the BAMline at the synchrotron BESSYII in Berlin. It could be demonstrated that beam diameters below 1 µm can be obtained. The beam size accepted by the lenses is (140 × 140) µm2, thus the intensity gain in the micrometer spot, including absorption, is about 15,000. It is possible to switch between different beam energies within a few minutes. First results of scans and the application of the lenses for MicroXANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) measurements are presented in this paper. Also, the possibility of MicroEXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) measurements is discussed.
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.
The color X-ray camera SLcam® is a full-field, single photon detector providing scanning-free, energy and spatially resolved X-ray imaging. Spatial resolution is achieved with the use of polycapillary optics guiding X-ray photons from small regions on a sample to distinct energy dispersive pixels on a charged-coupled device detector. Applying sub-pixel resolution, signals from individual capillary channels can be distinguished. Therefore, the SLcam® spatial resolution, which is normally limited to the pixel size of the charge-coupled device, can be improved to the size of individual polycapillary channels. In this work a new approach to a sub-pixel resolution algorithm comprising photon events also from the pixel centers is proposed. The details of the employed numerical method and several sub-pixel resolution examples are presented and discussed.
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%.
Increasing numbers of implant revisions are a current clinical issue. Interactions of the endoprosthesis biomaterial with the body affect implantation time by wear processes, i.e. corrosion and abrasion. Previously, cobalt-chrome implants were shown to cause high levels of cobalt ions being deposited in the bone matrix. To determine a poten- tial functional role of these ions on bone homeostasis, we have developed a non-destructive dual analysis of highly sensitive elemental analysis by synchrotron XRF directly in undecalcified histological bone thin sections (4 μm). In this study, samples from 28 bone samples from hip endoprosthesis carriers (Surface Replacement Arthroplasty, metal-on-metal bearing) with an implant lifetime of 17–1750 days were used. Results were compared to age- matched control specimens. The histological analysis identified areas of bone cell activity and assigned them for XRF measurements. Co-Cr wear particles were identified in the bone marrow. In addition, Co ions were highly enriched in the mineralized bone matrix. The cobalt deposits were not homogeneously distributed, and areas of high signal intensity were identified. Co was distinctly deposited in the newly formed osteoid layer, but also within deeper layers of the bone matrix, whereby the Co concentration increased with higher degrees of bone matrix mineralization. In the current study, we determined cobalt accumulations in the bone matrix and showed for the first time via synchrotron XRF with a high spatial resolution direct on histological slides, that cobalt deposits in the mineralized bone matrix in a mineral-specific way that is dependent upon the implant lifetime.
Chemical state of chromium, sulfur, and iron in sewage sludge ash based phosphorus fertilizers
(2015)
As an essential element of all life forms, phosphorus (P) is vital to the fertilizer industry. With decreasing quantity and quality of phosphate rock resources, recycling P-fertilizers from wastewater is of increasing interest. The P-fertilizer products of a recently developed thermochemical process for P recovery from sewage sludge ash (SSA) were investigated by chromium, sulfur, and iron K-edge X-ray near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. This paper focuses the formation and prevention of toxic chromium(VI) and toxic sulfides during the thermochemical processes. Reducing conditions prevent the oxidation of chromium(III) in the SSA to toxic chromium(VI). Sulfides formed under the reducing conditions are nontoxic iron sulfides. Hematite (Fe2O3) present in the SSA is reduced to magnetite (Fe3O4). A gentle post-treatment at 400 °C under oxidizing conditions converts the iron sulfides into plant-available iron sulfates. This oxidative post-treatment does not form undesired chromium(VI) compounds.
A new concept that comprises both time- and lateral-resolved X-ray absorption fine-structure information simultaneously in a single shot is presented. This uncomplicated set-up was tested at the BAMline at BESSY-II (Berlin, Germany). The primary broadband beam was generated by a double multilayer monochromator. 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 either an energy-sensitive area detector, the so-called color X-ray camera, or by an area-sensitive detector based on a CCD camera, in θ-2θ geometry. The first tests were performed with thin metal foils and some iron oxide mixtures. A time resolution of lower than 1 s together with a spatial resolution in one dimension of at least 50 µm is achieved.
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.
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.
The gold finds from Bernstorf, in the Freising district of Bavaria, were discovered in 1998, in the area of a Bronze Age settlement. First analyses with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) revealed gold of an unusually high purity grade, which was explained by the use of cementation techniques. A newer analysis with laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) indicated an even higher purity. The analytical results were the starting point of an ongoing discussion. In this study, we re-analysed 11 gold samples with Synchrotron radiation–induced X-ray fluorescence at the BAMline at BESSY. In a thorough analysis, different excitation and detection conditions were applied to confirm or disprove the previous results. It was shown that the purity of the gold from the specimen is higher than 99.9%. The main impurities are silver in a range between 20 and 200 μg/g and copper between 1 and 10 μg/g. The results are in very good agreement with the LA–ICP–MS measurements and provide basic information for discussions about provenance, processing techniques or considerations of authenticity.
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.
Several glazed ceramic fragments (XVIth to XVIIIth centuries) from two production centers in Portugal (Coimbra and Lisbon) were the object of this study. The ones from Coimbra comprise two sets of samples: faiences and tiles. The ones from Lisbon are only tiles (azulejos, in Portuguese). The three main divisions of such pieces are the ceramic support (body), glaze and surface decoration. The system decoration/glaze is not easy to investigate, due to the high heterogeneity resulting from the mixing procedures and firing temperatures used. Moreover, the ability of the pigment to diffuse into the base glaze varies depending on the composition of both the pigment and the glaze in terms of fusibility. In order to raster these effects, high resolution techniques are required. In this work, synchrotron micro-X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) analysis was performed to monitor the profiles of the characteristic elements from the colors used and the glaze in well prepared cross-sections of the samples. Key elements are: Co for blue, Mn for purple, Cu for green, Sb for yellow, Pb for the glaze and Fe for the body. The major difference observed is that faiences have glaze thicknesses between 150 and 200 µm and tiles have glaze thicknesses between 350 and 400 µm. Furthermore, in faiences all the pigments except the yellow ones are well dispersed into the glassy matrix, while in tiles, all of them are just partially diffused throughout the glaze. However, differences between the tiles from Coimbra and Lisbon were observed. In the samples from Lisbon, a higher intake from the pigment throughout the glaze is observed.