Principle

X-ray photons from the incoming beam eject core electron beyond the ionization threshold The atom is in an excited state, i.e. there is a core hole. Electron ejected is called a photo-electron The x-ray intensity is measured before and after the sample and the X-ray absorption coefficient is calculated

X-ray photon absorption

photon in -electron out

The emitted electron (described by a wave) is diffused by the neighboring atoms Interference between emitted and diffused wave

X-ray photon
The interference between emitted and diffused wave is constructive or destructive depending on: 1) The distance between the absorbing and diffusing atoms. 2) The reflection coefficient of the diffusing atom. 3) The wavelength of the emitted electron.

EXAFS

EXAFS (E) Create an EXAFS theory

D is t an ce S u m A t om B S 1

D 1
A

D 2
B S 2

Important factors: Distance r (influences frequency) Nature of neighbour (scattering amplitude, phase shift) Number of neighbours (influences amplitude)
Interference shown for two distances r1 and r2 with r1 < r2 The origin of the modulations of the excited state

D is t an ce S u m A t om B S 1

D 1
A

D 2
B S 2

Interference shown for two distances D1 and D2 with D1 < D2

What do we learn from EXAFS?

EXAFS gives information about the local environment (up to ca. 6 ) around a specific type of absorber atomDistance to neighboring atoms. Nature of neighboring atoms. Number of neighboring atoms.

Ionization chambers

Ionization chambers
Photon is absorbed by gas atom (He, Ar) Photoelectrons emitted (ionization) These electron initiate more ionization High voltage bias across plates causes electron and ions to drift in opposite directions. Charges collected result in current flow which is proportional to the incident x-ray intensity

Catalytic in-situ cells

Raw data treatment The spectrum (E) contains the EXAFS oscillations (E), which contain the structural information we are interested in. How to extract this information from the spectrum? Raw data treatment

EXAFS (E)

m m0(0) m0

3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 k(-1)
) k 2 (k)(
-2

3 2 ) ( k (k )
-2

1 0 1 2 3 0 2 4 6 8 k( )
-1

1 0

12

14

16

Data Analysis Convert to wave number

k = 2m ( h E0 ) 2

Subtract background and normalize

(k )

(0)
0 0

Resulting data is the sum of scattering from all shells

(k )

= i (k )
i