X-ray spectrometer Empyrean XAS

for spectroscopylaboratoryR&D

Overview
Empyrean XAS integrates laboratory X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) into the Empyrean multi‑technique X‑ray platform, enabling combined diffraction, scattering, imaging and spectroscopy measurements on a single instrument for coherent structural and chemical analysis.

Key capabilities

• Combine long‑range crystal structure (diffraction) with nanoscale organisation (scattering) and structural imaging
• Obtain element‑specific local chemical information using XANES and EXAFS
• Measure multiple absorption edges sequentially without extensive reconfiguration

Local chemical insight via XAS
XAS probes the local chemical environment of selected elements by measuring absorption near elemental edges. XANES provides sensitivity to oxidation state and electronic structure close to the edge; EXAFS delivers quantitative short‑range structural information at higher energies.

• Oxidation state identification
• Coordination geometry determination
• Interatomic distance measurement
• Short‑range order analysis

Quantitative performance
Empyrean XAS produces reproducible spectral data suitable for qualitative and quantitative analysis. High energy resolution supports detailed XANES feature analysis (including pre‑edge), while a wide k‑range enables quantitative EXAFS fitting to extract coordination numbers and distances. Measurements use transmission geometry for robust quantification.

Elemental and energy coverage
Supported edges include K‑edges of mid‑Z transition metals (e.g. Ti, Fe, Ni, Mo) and L‑edges of heavier elements (e.g. Ba, Ce). Accessible energy range: 4–20+ keV. Multiple edges can be recorded in a single experiment for efficient multi‑element characterisation.

Multi‑edge capability for complex materials
Sequential multi‑edge measurements avoid repeated instrument reconfiguration, accelerating analysis of multi‑component catalysts, battery electrodes, functional oxides and multi‑element alloys.

• Multi‑component catalysts
• Battery electrodes
• Functional oxides
• Multi‑element alloys

Integration within the Empyrean platform
Empyrean XAS is integrated into the modular Empyrean platform. The PreFIX concept enables fast, reproducible exchange of measurement configurations (diffraction, scattering, imaging, spectroscopy) with minimal realignment, supporting complementary techniques in a single workflow.

Software and workflow tools
Integrated software guides setup, acquisition and interpretation. Key workflow tools include:

• Automated data acquisition
• Scan alignment and normalization
• Detector correction and background subtraction
• Pre‑edge and post‑edge fitting
• Spectral processing and data curation

Applications
Typical applications include:

• Energy storage — track oxidation‑state changes and local structural evolution in battery materials
• Catalysis — characterise active sites, oxidation states and reaction pathways
• Advanced materials — study short‑range order, defects and electronic structure
• Environmental and geological science — analyse trace elements and chemical transformations

Documentation
Available documents:

• Empyrean Series 3 Pre‑Installation manual — Version 3, 14 Feb 2023 (English)
• Empyrean Series 3 User Guide — Version 3, 03 May 2022 (English)

Technical specifications

• Techniques: XANES, EXAFS
• Energy range: 4–20+ keV
• Measurement mode: Transmission
• Energy resolution: Down to 1.3 eV @ 8 keV
• Resolving power: Up to E/ΔE ≈ 6150
• Accessible edges: K‑edges of 3d transition metals and L‑edges of heavy elements
• Environment: Ambient air operation
• Operando studies: Supported
• Measurement time: Minutes to hours