BioXAS Spectroscopy
The BioXAS spectroscopy facility includes two beamlines: BioXAS-Main and BioXAS-Side. Both beamlines are optimized for X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), which is a technique used to investigate the local chemical environment of specific elements within a material. The beamlines operate in the hard X-ray energy range and support studies of solids, liquids, powders, and biological samples.
Two important spectroscopy methods performed at these beamlines are XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) and EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure). XANES is mainly used to determine oxidation states and electronic structures, while EXAFS provides information about atomic distances and coordination environments around an element.
BioXAS-Main
BioXAS-Main is optimized for highly sensitive measurements of dilute samples. This is especially important in biological and environmental research where trace metals may exist in very low concentrations. The beamline supports fluorescence and transmission detection modes and includes cryogenic systems to reduce radiation damage during experiments. Researchers commonly use this beamline to study metalloproteins, contaminants, catalysts, and trace elements in plants or soils.
BioXAS-Side
BioXAS-Side complements the Main beamline by supporting higher concentration samples and faster experimental workflows. It allows multiple samples to be analyzed efficiently using automated sample wheels and flexible experimental setups. The beamline is useful for routine spectroscopy measurements and studies that require rapid data collection.
BioXAS Imaging
The BioXAS-Imaging beamline focuses on X-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging. Unlike spectroscopy beamlines that measure absorption spectra, the imaging beamline creates elemental maps that show how different elements are distributed throughout a sample.
The beamline supports macro- and micro-scale imaging and can analyze a wide variety of materials including biological tissues, plants, geological samples, and environmental specimens. During an XRF imaging experiment, the sample is scanned point by point while detectors measure the fluorescence emitted by elements inside the material. The result is a detailed image showing the spatial distribution of elements such as iron, calcium, zinc, or copper. This imaging capability is important because it helps researchers identify specific regions of interest before performing detailed spectroscopy measurements.
Micro-XANES Capability at the BioXAS-Imaging Beamline
The BioXAS-Imaging beamline also offers micro-XANES (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure) capabilities for investigating the chemical speciation and oxidation states of elements with micrometer-scale spatial resolution. By combining high-resolution XRF imaging with XANES spectroscopy, researchers can correlate elemental distributions with local chemical information.