The Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) is pleased to present an WIN Seminar talk by Ning Chen, PhD, senior staff scientist and beamline responsible for the Hard X-Ray MicroAnalysis beamline (HXMA) at Canadian Light Source (CLS).
Registration is required. If you have any questions or issues registering, please contact win-office@uwaterloo.ca
X-ray absorption spectroscopy: a molecular scale approach, Theoretical to experimental
Abstract
The Canadian Light Source (CLS) is Canada’s national and international centre for synchrotron science and its applications. CLS is a third-generation synchrotron providing synchrotron radiation from 0.62 meV in the far- infrared to 100 keV hard X-rays with 23 beamlines operational, providing research capabilities in material science, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, protein crystallography, medical and life sciences, environmental science, and geological sciences.
As one of the most extensively applied synchrotron techniques, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) plays its unique role in research, ensured by the brilliance of X-ray provided by the synchrotron and supported by the well-developed XAS theory. Its Nano to sub Nano scale element specific local structure probing capability has a resolution of ~0.02Å in scale for the first shell and further for outer shell coordination featured for samples’ bulk, shell-by-shell, bond-by-bond, site-by-site structure and chemistry characterization, making a molecular level understanding possible for both crystalline and amorphous systems. This presentation would like to introduce CLS to researchers at WIN, focusing on X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) technology, XAS capabilities at Hard X-ray MicroAnalysis (HXMA) beamline at the CLS, and the full-scale user support at HXMA beamline. The theory guided XAS element specific local structural characterization will be discussed throughout case study from first shell local structural probing of shell-by-shell and bond-by-bond characterization, gold single atom catalyst characterization for OER reaction, to in-situ characterization of dynamic process of battery LMR-NMC cathode material through developing and dissolving of a spinel type LiMn2O4 particles during energy storage and releasing process in a Nano to sub Nano scale.
Biography
Ning Chen obtained his Ph.D. in 2002 at Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, and worked as postdoctoral fellow at Canadian Light Source (CLS) between 2001-2003. He became a staff scientist at CLS in 2003. Currently he is a senior staff scientist and beamline responsible for the Hard X-Ray MicroAnalysis beamline (HXMA) at CLS. He has built and commissioned HXMA, and is responsible for the beamline operation and user program.
The very nature of his job at CLS requires him to make every effort to develop the hard X-ray XAS facility at CLS as a leading center of excellence in synchrotron XAS research, develop user community at his beamline, and promote XAS in Canada and internationally. Years’ effect has been put into the effort. Except his beamline responsibility, he has been appointed 6 adjunct faculty positions in Canada and internationally. He has deeply involved in supervision and training of HQP, particularly for many graduate student XAS users and visiting scientists at his beamline, and collaborated in many scientific and industrial XAS user projects. He has given forty invited synchrotron lectures, organized and taught twenty-seven Mini-XAS workshops throughout Canada and internationally since 2013, including those given in Unite States, Germany, and China. His recent effort has been mostly through remote approach because of the impact of the pandemic. Seven XAS Webinars were given to the HXMA user community since November 2020. Ning’s expertise is X-ray absorption spectroscopy and its application in material and environmental studies.