| AVS 64th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Novel Trends in Synchrotron and FEL-Based Analysis Focus Topic | Wednesday Sessions |
| Session SA+AS+HC+SS-WeA |
| Session: | In Situ and Operando Characterization of Interfacial Reactions in Energy & Electronic Devices |
| Presenter: | Tom Regier, Canadian Light Source, Inc. |
| Authors: | T.Z. Regier, Canadian Light Source, Inc. T.D. Boyko, Canadian Light Source, Inc. J. Dynes, Canadian Light Source, Inc. Z.N. Arthur, Canadian Light Source, Inc. M.N. Banis, University of Western Ontario, Canada |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Research methods that enable operando studies on energy materials are an important tool for the rational design of materials for renewable energy and carbon neutral technologies. Of particular value is the ability to observe the change in configuration of the 3d orbitals in transition metal based catalysts. Using the excitation of 2p electrons into vacant 3d orbitals, synchrotron based L-edge measurements allow for clear observation of chemical state and co-ordination geometry information from the first row transition elements. Challenges related to the operating in-situ flow cells in soft x-ray beamline endstations have been overcome and operando measurements are now possible at several facilities.
We report on the design of a 3D printed liquid flow cell with built-in electrodes for operando measurements of the transition metal L-edges. The disposable cells can be quickly customized for specific experiments and can be pre-ordered for lab-based characterization before attempting synchrotron measurements. Beamline instrumentation allows for highly sensitive fluorescence yield measurements with 10 micron spatial resolution or 1 minute time resolution.