X-Ray Science

X-ray Science for Next-Gen Materials

Core X-ray Methods

Technique Probe Depth Unique Capabilities
XAS (NEXAFS) 5-1000 nm Chemical fingerprinting: Oxidation states, bond angles, and electronic structure at target elements (C, O, N, … edges)
RSoXS 2 nm – 3 μm Nanostructure + chemistry: Domain purity, molecular orientation, and interfacial composition
RSoXR .1-500 nm Buried interfaces: Layer thickness, density gradients, and interfacial roughness
GIWAXS 0.1 Å to 5 Å Crystal Structure: (Non-resonant) Crystallinity, crystalline/polycrystalline disorder, molecular packing

Why Resonance Matters

Resonant X-ray absorption

At specific energies near absorption edges, X-ray sensitivity increases 100-1000× for target elements. We exploit this to:

  • Isolate chemical environments (e.g., carbonyl vs aromatic carbon)
  • Map 3D molecular orientation using polarization control
  • Quantify nanoscale composition in complex mixtures

Advancing RSoXS

Our innovations in Resonant Soft X-ray Scattering include:

  • New tensor models for orientation analysis
  • Developing multi component scattering models
  • In-situ/operando measurement platforms
RSoXS technique diagram

Probing Buried Structures with RSoXR

Our Resonant Reflectivity work with Lawrence Berkeley Lab enables:

  • Interracial chemistry studies
  • Thin film structure analyses
  • Deep dives into light matter interactions

Crystallinity and GIWAXS

National lab resources, and our in house state of the art Xeuss 3.0 Instrument by XENOCS help us:

  • Measure crystal Nano-structures and molecular orientation
  • Connect molecular orientation and packing to device performance
  • Collaborate with other scientists at WSU.