Case Studies

2024 XMaS Case Studies

Unlocking New Insights into Arsenic Contamination with XMaSLink opens in a new window

J. Biswakarma, M. Matthews, J.M. Byrne, University of Bristol, UK.

Dr. Jagannath Biswakarma (centre) helping children understand the groundwater quality in his hometown Assam, India.

Dinosaurs, Dentists and DragonsLink opens in a new window

A.R.H. LeBlanc, A.P. Morrell, S. Sirovica, O. Addison, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, UK.

Aaron LeBlanc XMaS Case Study - Komodo Dragon Teeth

Komodo dragon teeth have iron-coated serrations, as revealed through X-ray Fluorescence at the ESRF (inset). Image of Komodo dragon courtesy of Charlotte Ellis (ZSL).

Magnetic X-Ray Reflectivity Insights into Interlayer Coupling Phenomena in Thin Film Multilayers for Spintronics Link opens in a new window

D. Rianto, B. Nicholson, L. Bouchenoire, Y. Choi, P. Kuświk, T.P.A. Hase, D. Atkinson, Department of Physics, University of Durham, UK.

Magnetic profiles of Pt proximity-induced magnetization (PIM) as a function of film thickness. The profiles are obtained at four magnetic fields. The hysteresis loop, also measured at the Pt L₃-edge, probes the Pt magnetic moment.

2023 XMaS Case Studies

Spectroscopic studies in the Geological SciencesLink opens in a new window

O. Filimonova, XMaS beamline, University of Liverpool. In collaboration with A. Kutyrev, Cardiff University, UK.

Experimental and simulated Os L₃ spectra of pentlandite with Os in a tetrahedral position.

Deploying Low Temperature Single Crystal Uniaxial Strain at the XMaS Beamline at the ESRFLink opens in a new window

P. Ryan, Advanced Photon Source, USA.

Top left; Theta – Two Theta scan of a 10 nm freestanding SrTiO₃ membrane on a Kapton sheet affixed to a tri-piezo stack uniaxial strain cell as pictured (inset). Bottom left; Strain cycle of the (002), (202) and (022) STO reflections at a fixed temperature. Bottom right; Compilation of lattice responses to the applied strain cycle of all three lattice parameters with strain percentage. Top centre & right: Ti K-edge spectroscopy illustrating pre-edge signatures of Ti related central symmetry breaking within the octahedral oxygen cage.

XMaS Scientist Experience Case Study as reported by Technopolis for UKRILink opens in a new window

N. Brown, V. Seth, N. Mihaylova, C. Glass, A. Neto, A. Vinnik, J. D’Hont, A. Adewusi, T. J’Nae Murray, and R. Nausedaite

Scientist Experience 2023 Case Study Photo

Winners of the 2023 Scientist Experience discussing with female scientists at the ESRF canteen.

2022 XMaS Case Studies

The Future of Sonar: A case study from Electrosciences Link opens in a new window

M. Cain, Electrosciences Ltd, Surrey, UK. University of Liverpool, UK. ESRF, France.

Markys Cain SolarSpin Case Study Photo 2022

Electrosciences Ltd have developed and commercialised a new multipurpose and multifunctional stress-strain rig.

2021 XMaS Case Studies

Looking for the perfect squeakLink opens in a new window

W. Briscoe’s, Bristol, UK. In partnership with Procter and Gamble.

This study, which focuses on the physical phenomenon known as stick-slip friction, results in a squeaky noise while washing the dishes. In Japan, this noise is known as ‘kyu-kyu’ and appears when there is physical contact of the human fingertip sliding across a wet lubricated surface (or dish). You can watch the accompanying video here.

2020 XMaS Case Studies

ADVENT: Metrology for advanced energy-saving technology in next generation electronics applications Link opens in a new window

M. Cain, B. Beckhoff, Y. Kayser, P. Finkel, M. Staruch, Electrosciences Ltd, Surrey, UK. US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, US.

New stress cell mounted on the XMaS off-line diffractometer and experimental data of stress induced transitions measured using the new system.Clean semiconductor behaviour of perovskite solar cells probed by simultaneous current-voltage and GIWAXS measurements

Surface condition of artefacts from King Henry VIII’s warship the Mary RoseLink opens in a new window

M. Dowsett, M. Adriaens, E.J. Schofield, A. Hildred, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. Ghent University, Ghent. The Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth, UK.

The study reported here centred on three brass artefacts Fig. 1(a, b, c) (one (c) originally believed to be copper but found by our XRD to be brass coated in about 2 microns of copper/cuprite from dezincification of the brass in sea water).

2019 XMaS Case Studies

Clean semiconductor behaviour of perovskite solar cells probed by simultaneous current-voltage and GIWAXS measurementsLink opens in a new window

S. Lilliu, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield

Simultaneous GIWAXS and current-voltage measurements of IBC solar cell during in situ annealing at 88.2°C at XMaS: a) Experimental geometry showing the grazing incident x-ray beam onto the sample and the detector for WAXS patterns recording. The electrodes connected to the current source and voltmeter are also shown; b) diffraction pattern after about 3 min of annealing showing only the precursor phase; c) diffraction pattern after about 3 h of annealing showing the perovskite and the lead iodide phases.

XMaS: The UK Materials Science Facility at the ESRF