Microscope for x-raY Scanning Transmission In-situ Imaging of Catalysts
MYSTIIC (Microscope for x-raY Scanning Transmission In-situ Imaging of Catalysts) is the new soft x-ray Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscope (STXM) at the Energy Materials In-situ Laboratory (EMIL) and is operated by the Institute for Nanospectroscopy. It allows spectro-
microscopic imaging in the energy range from 250 to 2500eV. MYSTIIC operates by focusing a coherent x-ray beam to a nanoscale spot across which the sample is scanned. To probe the local absorption, x-rays passing through the sample are measured for each point by a photomultiplier. This allows to do element specific, chemically and magnetically sensitive imaging with resolutions <25 nm.
Selected Applications:
- X-ray microscopy
- Nanospectroscopy for energy research
- NEXAFS imaging for environmental science
MYSTIIC interior components, photo A. Beheshti Askari
Methods
NEXAFS, XMCD, XMLD, THz spectroscopy, Time-resolved absorption, X-ray Microscopy
Remote access
not possible
The MYSTIIC endstation allows users to utilize XAS/NEXAFS and XMCD/XMLD contrast mechanisms both for imaging and for nano-spectroscopy of samples, in the energy range between 250 and 2500 eV. Samples need be sufficiently transparent at the x-ray energy used.
Scan options include NEXAFS point and line profiles as well as automated NEXAFS stacks (i.e. a full image is taken for each energy, allowing extraction of spectra for arbitrary areas of interest in post processing).
For low photon energies, an efficient photomultiplier detector enables imaging down to the carbon K-edge. Together with the high flux beamline with reduced carbon absorption, this allows for a fast acquisition even in low-flux single-bunch operation mode of BESSY II.
MYSTIIC is optimized for the study of energy materials. Dedicated sample holders - upon request prior to proposal submission - enable to control the sample environment such as high temperatures, sample biasing, measurements in gases up to 1 bar, and measurements in an electro-chemical flow cell.
MYSTIIC has been in user operation since 2022.