Fangzuo Li

Application of confocal X-ray fluorescence micro-spectroscopy to the investigation of paint layers

A confocal micro X-ray fluorescence (MXRF) spectrometer based on polycapillary X-ray optics was used for the identification of paint layers. The performance of the confocal MXRF was studied. Multilayered paint fragments of a car were analyzed nondestructively to demonstrate that this confocal MXRF instrument could be used in the discrimination of the various layers in multilayer paint systems.

Focal construct geometry for high intensity energy dispersive x-ray diffraction based on x-ray capillary optics

We presented a focal construct geometry (FCG) method for high intensity energy dispersive X-ray diffraction by utilizing a home-made ellipsoidal single-bounce capillary (ESBC) and a polycapillary parallel X-ray lens (PPXRL). The ESBC was employed to focus the X-rays from a conventional laboratory source into a small focal spot and to produce an annular X-ray beam in the far-field. Additionally, diffracted polychromatic X-rays were confocally collected by the PPXRL attached to a stationary energy-resolved detector. Our FCG method based on ESBC and PPXRL had achieved relatively high intensity diffraction peaks and effectively narrowed the diffraction peak width which was helpful in improving the potential d-spacing resolution for material phase analysis.

Annular beam high-intensity X-ray diffraction based on an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary

This short communication presents a study of the use of an annular X-ray beam produced by an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary (ESBC) to perform focal construct geometry (FCG) high-intensity angular-dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXRD) in transmission mode. The ESBC optic effectively focused a large focal spot X-ray source into a smaller focal spot and produced a narrowed X-ray ring in the far-field pattern when combined with a beam stop. A CCD imaging detector was linearly translated along the principal axis of the ESBC-FCG and obtained the corresponding sequential images of diffraction concentric circular caustics and convergence points, which were formed by the constructive interference of a continuous set of Debye cones arising from the annular interrogation volume. Pixels from the central region of an approximately 0.6u2005mm2 area were interrogated on each sequential image; as a result, a one-dimensional diffractogram of an aluminium oxide sample was revealed. The presented ESBC-FCG ADXRD technique shows potential for increasing the diffracted intensity and streamlining the operation of crystallographic analysis.

Confocal three-dimensional micro X-ray fluorescence based on synchrotron radiation for mineral analysis

ABSTRACT The confocal three-dimensional micro X-ray fluorescence using polycapillary optics and a synchrotron radiation was applied to nondestructively analyze elemental compositions of minerals, and thereby obtain the three-dimensional distributions of elements in the minerals. Such confocal micro X-ray fluorescence had potential applications in the mineral prospecting, identification of jades, differentiation of stones.

Energy-dispersive small-angle X-ray scattering with cone collimation using X-ray capillary optics

Energy-dispersive small-angle X-ray scattering (ED-SAXS) with an innovative design of cone collimation based on an ellipsoidal single-bounce capillary (ESBC) and a polycapillary parallel X-ray lens (PPXRL) had been explored. Using this new cone collimation system, scattering angle 2θ has a theoretical minimum angle related to the mean half-opening angle of the hollow cone beam of 1.42 mrad, and with the usable X-ray energy ranging from 4 to 30 keV, the resulting observable scattering vector q is down to a minimum value of about 0.003 Å-1 (or a Bragg spacing of about 2100 Å). However, the absorption of lower energies by X-ray capillary optics, sample transmission, and detector response function limits the application range to lower energy. Cone collimation ED-SAXS experiments carried out on pure water, Lupolen, and in situ temperature-dependent measurement of diacetylenic acid/melamine micelle solid were presented at three different scattering angles 2θ of 0.18°, 0.70° and 1.18° to illustrate the new opportunities offered by this technique as well as its limitations. Also, a comparison has been made by replacing the PPXRL with a pinhole, and the result shows that cone collimation ED-SAXS based on ESBC with PPXRL was helpful in improving the signal-to-noise ratio (i.e., reducing the parasitic background scattering) than ESBC with a pinhole. The cone collimation instrument based on X-ray capillary optics could be considered as a promising tool to perform SAXS experiments, especially cone collimation ED-SAXS has potential application for the in situ temperature-dependent studying on the kinetics of phase transitions.