NEXAFS Meaning and
Definition
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NEXAFS, short for Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure, refers to a spectroscopic technique used in the field of materials science and physics to study the electronic structure and chemical composition of surfaces and thin films. It utilizes synchrotron radiation, a type of high-energy X-rays, to excite core electrons of atoms in a sample and examine the resulting absorption spectrum.
The technique is primarily employed to investigate the unoccupied states and the local bonding environment of atoms within a sample, especially in relation to its surface. By analyzing the fine structure of the X-ray absorption spectrum, NEXAFS provides important information about the element-specific chemical and electronic properties of a material.
NEXAFS operates based on the principles of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and derives its strength from the ability to probe the element-specific and orbital-specific absorption features. The measurements are usually performed at specific X-ray energies corresponding to specific absorption edges of elements present in the sample.
The resulting absorption spectrum is represented graphically as a series of peaks and steps, indicating the excitation energies and intensities, respectively, providing valuable insights into the local electronic structure and chemical bonding of the material. NEXAFS is widely employed to study a range of materials, including polymers, catalysts, nanomaterials, biological samples, and even cultural heritage artifacts, contributing to the advancement of various scientific disciplines.
Common Misspellings for NEXAFS
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