Combined micro X-ray absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy to map phases of complex systems : the case of sphalerite
Marini, Carlo (ALBA Laboratori de Llum de Sincrotró)
Díaz Rovira, Anna Maria (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Física)
Ramanan, Nitya (ALBA Laboratori de Llum de Sincrotró)
Olszewski, Wojciech (ALBA Laboratori de Llum de Sincrotró)
Joseph, Boby (Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste)
Simonelli, Laura (ALBA Laboratori de Llum de Sincrotró)

Date:	2019
Abstract:	Combining micro-X-ray absorption spectroscopy (μXAS) and micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (μXRF) is a promising approach for the investigation of complex multi-phase systems. In this work, we have employed this approach to investigate natural sphalerite, the most common form of Zinc Sulfide. Spatially resolved elemental distribution maps of common 3d metal atoms (Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, and Fe) are superimposed with chemical speciation and structural parameter maps in order to understand the sphaleriteore-formation process and metamorphosis. Chemical speciation and structural parameters have been obtained by analyzing the μXAS spectra collected in several representative points of the sample, after μXRF mapping. In the present case, this X-ray based approach has permitted to determine the spatial distribution of the Zn species in sphalerite. The presence of two main zincite and smithsonite inclusions has been established, with the latter located close to copper impurity center. Since copper is known to remarkably reduce the corrosion resistance of zinc, resulting in the formation of carbonate as the corrosion product, this implies a possible role of Cu in the growth of the carbonate inclusions. The results obtained highlight the efficiency of this method in univocally identifying the spatial distribution of phases in complex systems, thanks to the simultaneous access to complementary information.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Materials chemistry ; Materials science
Published in:	Scientific reports, Vol. 9 (December 2019) , art. 18857, ISSN 2045-2322

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55347-9
PMID: 31827165

8 p, 1.6 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > The ALBA Synchrotron
Articles > Research articles
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