Röntgen-Ångström Cluster (RÅC) is a German-Swedish research collaboration in structural biology and materials science. The purpose is to strengthen research in materials science and structural biology that uses neutron and synchrotron radiation, and to stimulate the use and accumulation of competence for major research infrastructures that already exist or are planned within the framework of the collaboration.
What does this grant mean to the research environment?
“We will develop sample environments for in situ and operando nanoscale X-ray microscopy at MAX IV. Within the project, we will use these setups to study ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials, but the sample environments will also be useful for nanostructures such as transistors and light-emitting diodes. This should be of interest to many groups in NanoLund, and hopefully bring new user groups to MAX IV,” says Jesper Wallentin, Professor at Synchrotron Radiation Research.
Designing such environments to fit nanofocus instruments is intrinsically challenging
Realizing experiments under realistic conditions requires sample environments that deliver e.g. controlled temperatures or mechanical strain. Designing such environments to fit nanofocus instruments is intrinsically challenging, as the working distances of optics and detectors are short, but since the specimens themselves are microscopic, it is sufficient to create the desired conditions locally. X-MOOSE will establish a new experimental framework for in situ and operando nanoscale X-ray microscopy by developing a suite of standardized, chip-based sample environments for advanced synchrotron instruments.
How can this affect the public?
“The sample environments will be useful for many groups in nanoscience and material science, and hopefully accelerate their research into new electronics, solar cells, and engineering materials,” says Jesper Wallentin.
He will be the Swedish PI of the project, and Mathias Kläui from Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) is the German PI. Co-PIs are Gerhard Jakob at JGU, Bastian Pfau and Tim A. Butcher at Max Born Institute Berlin, and Igor Beinik and Megan Landberg at MAX IV Laboratory.
The figure at the beginning of this article is found in the publication “Ptychographic Nanoscale Imaging of the Magnetoelectric Coupling in Freestanding BiFeO3”.
- Link to the publication
- The Röntgen-Ångström Cluster (RÅC)
- Jesper Wallentin in the Lund University Research Profile