Energy Absorption and Beam Damage during Microfocus Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Physics

Background:

• Simultaneous characterization of material structure and thermophysical properties is essential.
• X-ray beams can interact with samples, potentially altering their properties.
• Fast differential scanning calorimetry (FDSC) is a sensitive technique for measuring thermal properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of X-ray radiation on sample behavior during in situ measurements.
• To quantify beam-induced heating and its effect on calorimetric signals.
• To reveal radiation-induced sample damage using combined techniques.

Main Methods:

• In situ fast differential scanning calorimetry (FDSC).
• Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements.
• Combined FDSC and X-ray analysis of the organic compound BCH-52.

Main Results:

• The X-ray beam caused sample heating, indicated by a shift in the FDSC heat-flow signal.
• Calorimetric data quantified the absorbed beam energy.
• Combined diffraction and calorimetric data revealed irreversible sample damage.

Conclusions:

• X-ray radiation can induce significant changes and damage in materials during simultaneous measurements.
• The combined FDSC and X-ray diffraction method is effective for studying beam-matter interactions.
• Minimizing beam damage is critical for reliable material characterization, especially for high-absorption materials and high-energy beams.