Redox state and photoreduction control using X-ray spectroelectrochemical techniques – advances in design and fabrication through additive engineering

DOI: 10.1107/S1600577520016021

Authors: Stephen Peter Best (The University of Melbourne) , Victor A. Streltsov (The University of Melbourne) , Christopher Thomas Chantler (The University of Melbourne) , Wangzhe Li (University of Oxford) , Philip A. Ash (University of Leicester) , Shusaku Hayama (Diamond Light Source) , Sofia Diaz-Moreno (Diamond Light Source)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Journal Of Synchrotron Radiation , VOL 28

State: Published (Approved)
Published: March 2021
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 20589 , 23523

Abstract: The design and performance of an electrochemical cell and solution flow system optimized for the collection of X-ray absorption spectra from solutions of species sensitive to photodamage is described. A combination of 3D CAD and 3D printing techniques facilitates highly optimized design with low unit cost and short production time. Precise control of the solution flow is critical to both minimizing the volume of solution needed and minimizing the photodamage that occurs during data acquisition. The details of an integrated four-syringe stepper-motor-driven pump and associated software are described. It is shown that combined electrochemical and flow control can allow repeated measurement of a defined volume of solution, 100 µl, of samples sensitive to photoreduction without significant change to the X-ray absorption near-edge structure and is demonstrated by measurements of copper(II) complexes. The flow in situ electrochemical cell allows the collection of high-quality X-ray spectral measurements both in the near-edge region and over an extended energy region as is needed for structural analysis from solution samples. This approach provides control over photodamage at a level at least comparable with that achieved using cryogenic techniques and at the same time eliminates problems associated with interference due to Bragg peaks.

Journal Keywords: XAS; XANES; electrochemistry; spectroelectrochemistry; photoreduction; copper complexes; additive engineering

Diamond Keywords: Additive Manufacturing

Subject Areas: Technique Development, Physics


Instruments: I20-Scanning-X-ray spectroscopy (XAS/XES)

Added On: 02/02/2021 14:28

Discipline Tags:

Physics Technique Development - Physics

Technical Tags:

Spectroscopy X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)