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The Structure of Materials Group provides facilities for a range of X-ray scattering, imaging and spectroscopy experiments, relevant to the fields of energy research, catalysis, engineering, metallurgy, nanoscience and other elements of advanced technology, along with aspects of fundamental structural physics and chemistry. In addition of traditional technological subjects, the Structure of Materials Group covers also X-ray imaging studies for archaeology and palaeontology. The introduction to the group's chapter in the annual ESRF Highlights gives an overview of some recent accomplishments.
ID11 is a high-energy beamline with decanano-focussing capabilities, allowing sub-micron grain mapping by diffraction or tomography, time-resolved studies on the millisecond timescale, and single-crystal diffraction on micron-sized samples. ID15A provides very high energy X-rays, up to several hundred keV, offering diffraction and fast imaging tools for materials chemistry and engineering studies. ID19 is mainly devoted to 3D imaging (microtomography, laminography), with an intensive use of phase contrast. These techniques are applied to a wide variety of topics ranging from materials research, cultural heritage to biomedical applications, with present emphasis on palaeontology. ID22 is optimised to provide high-resolution powder diffraction data over a wide X-ray energy range. ID31 offers a variety of techniques for the study of interfaces on the atomic to micrometre length scales and is ideally suited to the study of real working devices. The facilities are ideally suited to the study of samples relevant to future developments in catalysis, advanced electronics, nanoscience and nanotechnology.
The ESRF’s mission includes interacting with and supporting European industry. Synchrotron X-rays permit analysis of industrial products under real conditions of manufacture and use, often in real time. The following are some examples of applications possible at beamlines in the structure of materials group:
The individuals listed above and the staff of the Business Development Office are available to help industrial researchers identify appropriate resources at the ESRF.
In-house research runs in parallel to beamline operation, helping us to develop and refine techniques while investigating diverse scientific areas. Staff within the Structure of Materials Group have ongoing research projects in several areas: