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Advanced Compact X-Ray Spectrometer with High Resolution and Efficiency

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-13ER86546
Agency Tracking Number: 83470
Amount: $146,232.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: 03a
Solicitation Number: DE-FOA-0000760
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-02-19
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
294 Sturbridge Road
Charlton, MA 01507-5238
United States
DUNS: 055739791
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Daniel Bennis
 Mr.
 (508) 909-2200
 dcb@incomusa.com
Business Contact
 Steve Morrill
Title: Mr.
Phone: (508) 909-2200
Email: SMM@incomusa.com
Research Institution
 Brookhaven National Laboratory
 
Building 817 PO Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-
United States

 () -
 Federally Funded R&D Center (FFRDC)
Abstract

The combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) with x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) provides unique diagnostic analysis of both the structure and chemical composition of complex heterogeneous materials. The penetration of X-rays make this method ideal for studying and optimizing material properties under realistic, real time reaction conditions with simultaneous analysis of reaction products (in-operando). The full potential of XAS and XES measurements are limited by the detectors of the spectrometers. We propose to investigate a new detector design that will result in a highly efficient, easy to handle, low-cost, high-resolution detection system with excellent background suppression. The detection system is based on a new pre-collimation x-ray optic with a 7-8 degree solid collection angle that produces a collimated output with a 50-200m spot size. The small size and emittance angle of the pre-collimation optic allow additional optics to further collimate the x- rays such that a plane crystal can function as a wavelength selective element. This approach dramatically increases the flexibility and ease-of-use of the instrument. Measurement costs are reduced because the same setup can be used for different wavelengths with greater collection efficiency by only changing the crystal angle. Under this development program we will demonstrate feasibility of fabricating the pre-collimation optic critical to the design of this detector system. This polycapillary based x-ray optic will then be used in a mock up detector to verify the feasibility of the design. This development program will benefit of x-ray detectors beyond those used in synchrotron radiation facilities. For example, it could replace the conventional energy dispersive detectors like silicon drift diodes in scanning electron microscopes (SEM).

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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