Journal of large-scale research facilities, 2, A80 (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 Published: 30.06.2016 LiXEdrom: High Energy Resolution RIXS Station dedicated to Liquid Investigation at BESSY II Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie * Instrument Scientists: - Prof. Dr. Emad Flear Aziz, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, phone: +49 30 8062-15003, email: emad.aziz@helmholtz-berlin.de - Dr. Jie Xiao, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, phone: +49 30 8062-13451, email: jie.xiao@helmholtz-berlin.de - Dr. Ronny Golnak, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, phone: +49 30 8062-15028, email: ronny.golnak@helmholtz-berlin.de - Dr. Marc Tesch, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, phone: +49 30 8062-13443, email: marc.tesch@helmholtz-berlin.de Abstract: LiXEdrom is an experimental station dedicated to high resolution RIXS measurements on liquid samples. It is equipped with two VLS gratings and advanced photon detector (MCP/phosphorous screen/CCD), covering soft X-ray range of 200 – 1200 eV. The e�cient di�erential pumping and cool- ing systems ensure successful executions of X-ray spectroscopy on liquid samples in vacuum. Liquid samples are introduced into the vacuum chamber by micro-jet or �ow-cell techniques. 1 Introduction LiXEdrom experimental station is equipped with high energy resolution X-ray spectrometer and ded- icated to investigation of functional materials in solution and at surfaces and interfaces, with X-ray absorption (XAS) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) techniques. The X-ray spectrometer includes two variable-line-spacing (VLS) spherical gratings and an advanced X-ray photon detector (microchannel plate (MCP)/phosphorous screen/CCD camera assembly). The two gratings, one with 1200 l/mm line density covering energy range of 200 – 500 eV and the other with 2400 l/mm covering 400 – 1200 eV, are mounted on a motorized stage with 10 nm positioning *Cite article as: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie. (2016). LiXEdrom: High Energy Res- olution RIXS Station dedicated to Liquid Investigation at BESSY II. Journal of large-scale research facilities, 2, A80. http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 1 http://jlsrf.org/ http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journal of large-scale research facilities, 2, A80 (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 accuracy. The resolving power E/∆E is around 4000 for the high energy grating at 800 eV, while 5000 for the low energy grating at C K-edge, when a 10 µm X-ray spot size on sample is achieved. Switch- ing grating is swift (within one second), thanks to the compact design of grating holder and motor. The vacuum of graing/detector chamber and beamline (<5 x10−9 mbar) is well protected by pinholes, e�cient di�erential pumping and cooling systems installed between the sample chamber and grating chamber and between the sample chamber and beamline. The sample chamber is usually kept at 10−4 – 10−5 mbar with running liquid-jet inside, or ∼ 10−7 mbar with liquid �ow-cell. The liquid-jet and �ow-cell are the two applied techniques for the introduction of liquid samples into vacuum chamber. Figure 1: Schematic view of the LiXEdrom endstation. 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 Journal of large-scale research facilities, 2, A80 (2016) Figure 2: Top view of the LiXEdrom endstation. 2 Instrument applications • Investigation of Hydrogen-bond network and Hofmeister e�ects in aqueous solutions • Determination of interfacial electronic properties (electron delocalization) at the solute-solvent interface • Exploring the strength of charge-donation and back-donation at the metal-ligand bond in organometal- lic and porphyrin complexes • Observation of electronic structure changes of catalysts in solution and electrolytes along the reaction path • Investigating the surface chemistry of nanoparticles in solution activated by di�erent surfactants 3 http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journal of large-scale research facilities, 2, A80 (2016) http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 3 Technical Data Monochromator Two VLS spherical gratings: radius 9.75 m / line density 1200 l/mm and radius 13 m / line density 2400 l/mm Experiment in vacuum Yes, grating/detector chamber < 5 x 10−9 mbar, sample chamber 10−4 – 10−5 mbar with liquid-jet or ∼ 10−7 mbar with �ow-cell Scattering geometry Horizontal, 90° angle with respect to beamline Energy range 200 – 1200 eV Resolving power E/∆E ∼ 4000 for VLS2400 grating ∼ 5000 for VLS1200 grating Detector Microchannel plate (MCP)/phosphorous screen/CCD camera as- sembly Sample Liquids (micro-jet and �ow-cell) and solids Sample manipulator Motorized XYZ sample manipulator with micrometer precision Temperature Room temperature Table 1: Technical parameters of the LiXEdrom endstation. References Lange, K. M., Könnecke, R., Ghadimi, S., Golnak, R., Soldatov, M. A., Hodeck, K. F., . . . Aziz, E. F. (2010). High resolution X-ray emission spectroscopy of water and aqueous ions using the micro-jet technique. Chemical Physics, 377(1–3), 1 - 5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2010.08.023 4 http://dx.doi.org/10.17815/jlsrf-2-85 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphys.2010.08.023 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Introduction Instrument applications Technical Data