The Hard X-ray Nanoprobe beamline at Diamond Light Source

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Synchrotron Radiation

Background:

• The development of advanced nanoscale characterization techniques is crucial for scientific discovery.
• Existing facilities often lack the multi-modal capabilities required for comprehensive analysis.
• The Hard X-ray Nanoprobe beamline (I14) at Diamond Light Source was conceived to address these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and detail the design, capabilities, and performance of the I14 beamline.
• To highlight its multi-modal analytical approach for nanoscale investigations.
• To showcase its potential for a wide range of scientific research.

Main Methods:

• Design and implementation of a 185m-long beamline operating from 5-23 keV.
• Incorporation of multi-modal analytical techniques including elemental mapping, XANES, nano-XRD, differential phase contrast, and ptychography.
• Development of a ≤50nm beam size with a flexible, fast-acquisition scanning system.

Main Results:

• The I14 beamline provides a stable and robust platform for nanoscale microscopy.
• It enables routine experiments with a ≤50nm beam size and fast scanning capabilities.
• Demonstrated performance through various examples showcasing elemental, speciation, structural, and imaging analyses.

Conclusions:

• The Hard X-ray Nanoprobe beamline (I14) is a significant new facility for nanoscale research.
• Its multi-modal capabilities and high performance open new avenues for scientific exploration.
• The beamline is operational and ready to support a broad user community.