X-ray absorption spectral analysis with a 9 V battery X-ray generator

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• X-ray absorption spectral (XAS) analysis is a powerful technique for elemental and chemical state investigation.
• Portable XAS systems are desirable for in-situ and field measurements.
• Traditional XAS setups can be bulky and require significant power.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a portable XAS system for analyzing materials.
• To demonstrate the measurement of the calcium K edge in paper using a battery-powered X-ray source.
• To assess the effectiveness of grazing incidence geometry in mitigating artifacts.

Main Methods:

• X-ray absorption spectral (XAS) analysis was conducted using a 9 V dry electric battery X-ray generator.
• A portable Silicon PIN (Si PIN) X-ray detector was employed for data acquisition.
• Grazing incidence geometry was utilized to measure the calcium K edge (4.0 keV) in paper.
• The Kalpha X-ray fluorescence peak (3.5 keV) artifact was suppressed.

Main Results:

• The calcium K edge in paper was successfully measured using the portable XAS setup.
• Grazing incidence geometry effectively suppressed the artifact from the Kalpha X-ray fluorescence peak.
• The 9 V dry battery X-ray emitter proved suitable for portable XAS applications.

Conclusions:

• A portable XAS system powered by a 9 V battery is a viable option for elemental analysis.
• This portable setup enables effective measurement of specific elemental edges, like calcium in paper.
• The developed methodology offers a practical approach for field-based XAS studies.