The OÆSE endstation at BESSY II: operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy for energy materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Spectroscopy
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Investigating energy materials under operational conditions is crucial for understanding their performance.
• Real-time analysis of (electro)chemical mechanisms is essential for optimizing energy applications.
• Advanced spectroscopic techniques are needed for in situ/operando studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the new Operando Absorption and Emission Spectroscopy at EMIL (OÆSE) endstation.
• To describe the setup, modularity, and adaptability of the OÆSE endstation.
• To showcase the capabilities of OÆSE for in situ/operando studies of energy materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the undulator-based two-colour EMIL beamline for soft, tender, and hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS).
• Employing tailored operando sample environments for specific research questions.
• Implementing strategies to mitigate radiation-induced effects from high-brilliance X-rays.

Main Results:

• The OÆSE endstation enables comprehensive in situ/operando investigations of energy materials.
• Soft and hard XAS (sXAS and hXAS) were used to monitor the in situ growth of electrodeposited copper.
• The proof-of-concept experiment demonstrated the versatility of OÆSE for studying materials under relevant conditions.

Conclusions:

• The OÆSE endstation is a powerful and versatile tool for in situ/operando studies of energy materials.
• The endstation facilitates real-time investigations of (electro)chemical mechanisms governing material performance.
• OÆSE supports a wide range of energy materials research at the BESSY II synchrotron facility.