Chemical-state Imaging of Materials Using X-ray Microscopes

Abstract

Chemical-state imaging of materials using X-ray microscopes has been developed and applied to various materials such as composites, batteries, ceramics and so on. In this article, after features of X-ray microscopy are discussed, analytical approaches for chemical-state imaging are reviewed by showing typical application to materials : scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM), transmission X-ray microscope (TXM), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy imaging (XAS-imaging). X-ray microscopes can provide indispensable information for investigating “trigger sites” that are specific structures or locations in materials where key reactions progress. For this end, analytical approaches using information science and/or applied mathematics will be required to deal with big data obtained by X-ray microscopes.