Expanding Access to XAFS Analysis: Introducing XAFS On Demand for Industrial Analytical Testing

Addressing the Bottlenecks in XAFS Testing

X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopy is an essential tool for characterizing electronic structure, oxidation states, and coordination environments in materials across a range of scientific and industrial applications. From heterogeneous catalysis and battery materials to mineral analysis and corrosion studies, XAFS provides high-resolution, element-specific insights into material behavior under real-world conditions.

Historically, synchrotron facilities have been the gold standard for XAFS measurements. However, accessing these facilities comes with significant logistical and scheduling challenges. Beamline allocation is highly competitive, requiring months-long wait times, and once awarded, researchers must often work under constrained time slots, limiting the flexibility needed for iterative testing. For industrial users and academic researchers alike, these delays hinder decision-making, slow down innovation, and create bottlenecks in grant applications and funding proposals.

XAFS On Demand from easyXAFS is a mail-in laboratory-based XAFS measurement service designed to address these challenges by offering high-precision data with fast turnaround times, allowing researchers and industry professionals to access reliable XAFS results without relying on synchrotron availability.

Overcoming Traditional XAFS Limitations with XAFS On Demand

1. Reducing Time Constraints: Reliable Data Without Scheduling Bottlenecks

Access to synchrotron beamlines is often a limiting factor in time-sensitive research and industrial applications. Applying for beamline access takes months, and once awarded, researchers must work within fixed experimental windows, often under high-pressure conditions. This rigid scheduling does not align with the fast-paced demands of R&D, QA/QC testing, or the iterative nature of catalyst development and material characterization.

XAFS On Demand removes these constraints. By allowing scientists and engineers to submit samples at any time, this service eliminates reliance on facility availability, providing measured data in a matter of days rather than months. This enables:

• Development of Standard Test Methods tailored for specific production needs.

• Faster iteration cycles in catalyst optimization and material testing.

• Timely decision-making for industrial quality control and failure analysis.

• Rapid response to emerging research questions without long scheduling delays.

2. High-Precision XAFS Measurements Without Synchrotron Access

The accuracy and depth of information XAFS provides make it indispensable for studying metal coordination environments, defect structures, and reaction mechanisms. However, the assumption has long been that only synchrotron-based XAFS can produce high-resolution data.

XAFS On Demand utilizes advanced laboratory-based XAFS instrumentation with energy resolutions typically within 1–2 eV of synchrotron standards. Rigorous calibration with certified reference materials and standardized procedures ensure precision and reproducibility, offering confidence that laboratory-derived data closely align with results obtained from traditional synchrotron experiments

• Element-specific oxidation state analysis is now routine, with analysis methods proven in the synchrotron community.

• Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis for coordination number determination and bond length measurements is also standard, again based on proven methods taken from the synchrotron community

• In-depth data processing and normalization, ensuring spectral accuracy across different materials and sample types.

With controlled instrument calibration and rigorous quality assurance, easyXAFS ensures that data generated from the mail-in service aligns with established synchrotron results, allowing researchers to confidently integrate these findings into their work.

3. A Scalable and Convenient Testing Model for Industry and Academia

XAFS testing previously required onsite experiments at synchrotron facilities, necessitating extensive travel, administrative approvals, and compliance with strict facility regulations. XAFS On Demand removes these barriers by providing a straightforward, scalable, and accessible alternative.

How It Works:

1. Submit Your Samples – Prepare and ship samples according to easyXAFS guidelines.

2. Agree on the Analysis to be Performed – basic data processing is included, but more advanced analysis can be contracted based on the project needs.

3. Precision XAFS Measurement – Our facility performs high-quality, laboratory-based XAFS measurements.

4. Receive Your Data – Results are returned in a fraction of the time traditional synchrotron scheduling requires, and includes both spreadsheet and prj files.

This on-demand model supports both routine material testing and exploratory research, making it particularly valuable for:

• Industrial R&D teams requiring real-time feedback on material properties.

• Catalysis and energy storage scientists working on fast-paced projects requiring rapid iteration.

To ensure the highest data quality, proper sample preparation is essential. Researchers submitting samples for XAFS On Demand should follow best practices for sample homogeneity, contamination control, and appropriate thickness calibration. Our team supports the development of standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for sample preparations. 

Conclusion: Expanding Access to High-Quality XAFS Testing

By removing the barriers of synchrotron dependency, XAFS On Demand provides a scalable, accessible, and high-precision alternative for researchers and industry professionals. Whether the goal is accelerating catalyst development, optimizing materials for industrial applications, or securing grant funding, this service ensures that scientists and engineers can obtain reliable, high-resolution XAFS data without delays.

For more information on sample preparation and testing protocols, visit XAFS On Demand or contact our team for technical consultation.