Turning Questions into Data: How Industry Customer Needs Drive Experiment Design at easyXAFS and XAFS on Demand

Every advanced material tells a story. But to make sense of it—to quantify oxidation states, resolve ligand identities, or track changes in local structure—your analysis needs more than just a good instrument. It needs a plan. 70% of the work is planning the experimental methodology to ensure actionable outcomes..

At easyXAFS, we believe that meaningful measurement starts with thoughtful experimental design. And that design starts with you.

From Hypothesis to Actionable Insight

Our customers don’t just want data—they want answers and repeatable methods. Whether it’s verifying oxidation state distributions in a battery electrode, monitoring bond lengths in a new catalyst, or quantifying ligand environment changes in a nanomedicine platform, the end goal is clear: actionable information.

But getting there takes expertise. In X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS), successful outcomes hinge on the thoughtful convergence of three elements:

1. Sample Preparation Methodology

2. Definition and Selection of Reference Compounds

3. Pre-determined Analysis Strategy

This isn’t trial and error. It’s a targeted design. And it’s what we do best.

Why Design Matters

Too often, analytical techniques are applied reactively—samples are run first, questions come second, and interpretation gets murky. With XAFS, that can be a second-best approach..

Because XAFS measures fine structure variations at the atomic level, the experiment must be constructed from the outset to resolve specific features. Without the right references or with poorly controlled sample conditions, even the best spectra can fail to deliver clear answers.

That’s why every easyXAFS engagement begins with a collaborative design phase.

A Partnership Built on Precision

For many industrial clients, the synchrotron route is simply unsustainable. Access is slow and unpredictable, and the expertise required to plan and interpret an experiment is  often not in-house. Our XAFS On Demand services remove those barriers.

Here’s how:

• Collaborative Discovery: We start by identifying what insights you need. Our team of PhDs listens closely to your scientific, technical, and business goals, then helps define what “actionable” really means for your project.

• Expert Experiment Design: Together, we select appropriate reference standards and agree on a practical and reliable sample preparation approach. We also define the analysis pathway in advance, so there are no surprises when results come in.

• End-to-End Support: From method development to SOP creation to scheduling recurring measurements, we work alongside you to ensure that every XAFS measurement isn’t just a one-off, but a tool you can depend on over and over again.

From One-Off Study to Repeatable Analysis

When experiment design is done right, XAFS becomes more than a specialty tool; it becomes an integral part of your analytical workflow. Our clients regularly develop robust SOP’s for sample handling, reference calibration, and spectral interpretation. This enables consistent use of XAFS across:

• R&D: to validate hypotheses and explore new materials

• QA/QC: to ensure process control and product consistency

• Failure Analysis: to pinpoint root causes and material degradation

Your Material, Your Measurement Strategy

At easyXAFS, we don’t just run your samples. We help build your test method because we know that the path to clarity starts with good design. And when your goal is a sustainable, scalable, and scientifically rigorous solution, every decision matters.

Ready to design your XAFS experiment for impact?

Let’s build SOP’s together—from the ground up.