Redox state and photoreduction control using X-ray spectroelectrochemical techniques – advances in design and fabrication through additive engineering
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Christopher T. Chantler; Victor A. Streltsov; Philip A. Ash; Stephen P. Best; Sofia Diaz-Moreno; Shusaku Hayama; Wangzhe Li
- Source
- Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. 28:472-479
- Subject
- Flow control (data)
0303 health sciences
Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Radiation
Materials science
Fabrication
Absorption spectroscopy
Extended X-ray absorption fine structure
business.industry
X-Rays
030303 biophysics
010402 general chemistry
01 natural sciences
0104 chemical sciences
Electrochemical cell
03 medical and health sciences
Data acquisition
Interference (communication)
Optoelectronics
Absorption (electromagnetic radiation)
business
Oxidation-Reduction
Instrumentation
Copper
- Language
- ISSN
- 1600-5775
The design and performance of an electrochemical cell and solution flow system optimized for the collection of X-ray absorption spectra from solutions of species sensitive to photodamage is described. A combination of 3D CAD and 3D printing techniques facilitates highly optimized design with low unit cost and short production time. Precise control of the solution flow is critical to both minimizing the volume of solution needed and minimizing the photodamage that occurs during data acquisition. The details of an integrated four-syringe stepper-motor-driven pump and associated software are described. It is shown that combined electrochemical and flow control can allow repeated measurement of a defined volume of solution, 100 µl, of samples sensitive to photoreduction without significant change to the X-ray absorption near-edge structure and is demonstrated by measurements of copper(II) complexes. The flow in situ electrochemical cell allows the collection of high-quality X-ray spectral measurements both in the near-edge region and over an extended energy region as is needed for structural analysis from solution samples. This approach provides control over photodamage at a level at least comparable with that achieved using cryogenic techniques and at the same time eliminates problems associated with interference due to Bragg peaks.