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Brookhaven National Laboratory Develops Integrated X-ray Imaging Tool for Nuclear Materials Research

A research team at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory has recently developed and built a new experimental apparatus that integrates four X-ray computed tomography techniques into a single instrument, enabling multiscale, comprehensive studies of next-generation nuclear reactor materials. The related technical achievements and capability demonstration have been published in the Journal of Synchrotron Radiation. The apparatus is located at the X-ray Powder Diffraction (XPD) beamline of the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) and was commissioned jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's Nuclear Science User Facilities program, Brookhaven National Laboratory's Nuclear Science and Security Department, and NSLS-II. Researchers said that next...

2026-09-12

BESSY II reveals early-stage copper oxidation: providing evidence for catalyst development and corrosion research on nuclear waste final disposal containers

Germany's BESSY II synchrotron facility has recently provided new experimental insights into the early-stage oxidation process of copper surfaces. The study shows that before the formation of pure copper oxides, copper and oxygen atoms first form complex surface superstructures, such as "29"CuₓO. The chemical state of such structures has long been debated, and the findings are of reference value for catalyst research as well as for corrosion protection studies of copper containers used for radioactive waste final disposal. Before the formation of pure copper oxide, complex superstructures composed of copper and oxygen atoms emerge—such as "29"CuxO. HZB In everyday environments, copper surfaces gradually lose their red metallic luster and form a greenish oxide layer. This layer structure can slow further corrosion over an extended period. Regarding the initial stages of this process, the core question researchers focus on is: to what extent are copper atoms actually oxidized once oxygen enters the copper surface. Since conventional spectroscopic methods struggle to clearly distinguish between pure copper and partially oxidized surfaces, such oxidation states have previously been difficult to determine directly.

2026-09-07

Russia's EVRAZ Plans to Develop High-Performance Railway Rails Using SKIF Synchrotron Radiation Platform

Russian railway infrastructure component manufacturer EVRAZ PJSC plans to cooperate with the SKIF Collective Use Center to develop new alloys and high-performance rails using synchrotron radiation experimental capabilities, aiming to improve the mechanical properties and operational reliability of rails. At a roundtable discussion on "Development of New Structural and Tool Materials and Mechanical Engineering Technologies Using Synchrotron Radiation" held during the Technoprom 2026 forum, participating experts discussed the application prospects of the SKIF Collective Use Center in the development of high-quality rolled metal products. EVRAZ stated that Russia's railway operating environment is complex, with long line distances, numerous mountain routes, prominent low-temperature conditions, coupled with growing freight volumes, placing higher demands on steel materials...

2026-09-07

South Korean research team reveals that water storage capacity of cold subducting slabs has been underestimated using synchrotron radiation sources

A research team led by Professor Yongjae Lee of the Department of Earth System Sciences at Yonsei University in South Korea has recently found that in cold, rapidly descending tectonic subduction zones, crustal rocks may transport up to 1 trillion kilograms of water to the mantle each year—approximately twice the previous estimate. The findings have been published in Nature Communications. Subduction zones are regions where Earth's tectonic plates converge and one plate descends beneath another, often accompanied by volcanic and seismic activity. For a long time, the academic community has generally believed that serpentinite, a water-bearing rock, gradually dehydrates as it descends with the plate due to increasing pressure and temperature, and the released water further promotes melting of the overlying plate and is associated with the formation of volcanic arc chains.

2026-09-07

Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility to Resume Operations in Mid-September

The Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF) User Office issued a notice on September 2 stating that the facility will conclude its summer maintenance and resume operations in mid-September 2026. The notice reminds users with experimental needs to promptly log in to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure Sharing Service Platform, or submit project proposals and beamtime reservation requests through the BSRF User Service System. The BSRF accepts project proposals and beamtime reservation requests year-round, and the specific application procedures can be found in the relevant attachments. Users encountering issues during the application or reservation process may contact the BSRF User Office or the corresponding beamline station contacts. Contact information for each beamline station has been provided along with the notice...

2026-09-03

Russia's SKIF and China's HEPS Explore Building Joint Synchrotron Radiation Experimental Station

The Siberian Circular Photon Source (SKIF) synchrotron radiation facility in Russia is considering closer cooperation with China's High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), including exploring the construction of a joint experimental station. Yevgeny Levichev, Director of the SKIF Collective Use Center, stated that the Russian side plans to sign cooperation agreements with three synchrotron radiation facilities in China by the end of this year, including the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the Beijing High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), and a synchrotron radiation facility in Hefei. Among these, Russia is particularly interested in advancing joint projects with HEPS, potentially even establishing a joint experimental station. Levichev noted that the Russian and Chinese synchrotron radiation facilities are complementary in terms of energy range, which will facilitate joint experiments by researchers and improve the utilization efficiency of large-scale scientific facilities.

2026-09-02

Japan's PF Launches Quantum Multi-Beam Experiments, Achieving Simultaneous Hard and Soft X-ray Measurements

The Photon Factory, a synchrotron radiation facility at the Institute of Materials Structure Science, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Japan, has recently launched collaborative experiments on the development and research multi-purpose beamlines BL-11A and BL-11B, achieving simultaneous irradiation of the same sample with hard and soft X-rays at the same position. The research results will be published in the international academic journal *Review of Scientific Instruments*. The Photon Factory uses electrons moving at near-light speed to generate high-brightness X-rays, known as synchrotron radiation, for studying material structures and properties. Among these, hard X-rays are better suited for observing the internal structure of materials, while soft X-rays are ideal for analyzing material surfaces and electronic states. Previously, at synchrotron radiation facilities, the two types of X-rays typically had to...

2026-08-31

China's First Enterprise-Level Synchrotron Radiation Technology Application Research Platform Inaugurated in Shanghai

The Sinopec Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility Energy and Chemical Science Laboratory, invested by Sinopec and jointly built with the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and based on the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) major scientific infrastructure, was recently inaugurated in Shanghai Zhangjiang Science City. This laboratory is the first enterprise-level synchrotron radiation technology application research platform in China. According to reports, the laboratory consists of three beamline stations and auxiliary laboratories, and will provide technical support and services for basic scientific research conducted by Sinopec and public users, with a focus on oil and gas exploration and development, petroleum refining and chemical engineering, and new energy and new materials. Once the platform is completed, it will help enhance the enterprise's capabilities in forward-looking and fundamental research, and provide scientific research support for cultivating new quality productive forces in China's energy and chemical industry.

2026-08-29

First Seven Experimental Stations of Russia's SKIF Synchrotron Planned for Commissioning in Summer 2027

The first seven scientific experimental stations at the Siberian Circular Photon Source (SKIF) shared center, located near Novosibirsk, Russia, are planned to begin beam testing in August 2027. According to the center's relevant official, all experimental station equipment has been fully installed, and experts are currently conducting commissioning work. Construction of the SKIF synchrotron was completed in June 2026. Once the project becomes operational, it will utilize synchrotron radiation to help researchers observe the internal structure of matter, obtaining high-precision data on material structure and behavior, which can serve fundamental research and related industrial R&D. As planned, the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences will launch beam operation in the main storage ring in September...

2026-08-28

German BESSY II Research Reveals: Cesium Chloride Seed Layer Can Improve Quality of Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cells

A team from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) in Germany used the BESSY II synchrotron radiation facility to conduct nanoscale analysis of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells fabricated by evaporation methods, and proposed a new approach to improve the quality of perovskite thin films. The study shows that introducing a thin cesium chloride (CsCl) seed layer between the two sub-cells promotes uniform growth of the perovskite layer while reducing undesirable lead iodide deposition at the interface. The research demonstrates that the cesium chloride seed layer improves the growth of the evaporated perovskite layer and reduces the formation of lead iodide. Scanning electron microscopy images show that the perovskite layer grown without a seed layer (left image) consists of extremely fine crystallites...

2026-08-27

Tohoku University and Rigaku Establish Joint Research Institute for X-ray Metrology

Tohoku University and Rigaku Corporation, a subsidiary of Rigaku Holdings Group, recently announced that they established the "Rigaku-Tohoku University X-ray Metrology Co-Creation Research Institute Beyond The Limits" on August 1, 2026, and commenced joint research. The institute will operate for a period of three years, until July 31, 2029, with the possibility of extension based on research outcomes. According to the announcement, the new institute will focus on upgrading X-ray metrology technologies, establishing new measurement methods, and nurturing the next generation of researchers. As semiconductor devices continue to shrink in size while becoming increasingly multi-layered and multi-material in composition, manufacturing processes are growing more complex, driving rising demand for high-precision, non-destructive evaluation of materials and structures. Existing measurement methods face limitations in evaluating fine structures and precisely analyzing depth-direction structures, making the development of new approaches such as soft X-ray techniques an important direction.

2026-08-27

Canadian Light Source Synchrotron at University of Saskatchewan Receives $3 Million CAD in Upgrade Funding

On August 26, Innovation Saskatchewan announced that it will provide $3 million CAD in funding to the Canadian Light Source synchrotron at the University of Saskatchewan to support the installation of an advanced solid-state amplifier, advancing the facility's upgrade efforts. According to reports, this solid-state amplifier is a key component of the Canadian Light Source's core particle accelerator and will support the operation of its 22 synchrotron radiation beamlines. The upgrade is expected to enhance facility performance, operational reliability, and energy efficiency, further strengthening its capacity for cutting-edge scientific research. The Canadian Light Source is Canada's only synchrotron facility. Synchrotrons use electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency waves to accelerate electrons to near the speed of light, keeping them in a circular orbit; as electrons move, they generate high-brightness, highly focused synchrotron radiation beams, which are directed to different experimental beamlines to help researchers study material structures and properties at the atomic scale.

2026-08-27

Russia's SKIF Synchrotron First Scientific User Competition Expected to Launch in Second Half of 2027

The competition to select the first research teams for the Siberian Circular Photon Source (SKIF) synchrotron in Russia is planned for the second half of 2027. Valery Bukhtiyarov, Director of the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated at the Technoprom-2026 forum held in Novosibirsk that the first open competition will be launched in the second half of 2027. The institute is responsible for commissioning the construction of this large-scale scientific facility. Bukhtiyarov noted that SKIF is scheduled to receive synchrotron radiation and conduct its first experiments in the autumn. Construction of the facility was completed in June 2026, with an opening ceremony held in August 2026. Once operational, SKIF will use synchrotron radiation to help...

2026-08-27

US Advanced Light Source Upgrade Advances, Soft X-ray Brightness to Increase at Least 100-Fold

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US is advancing the Advanced Light Source (ALS) synchrotron upgrade project, planning to enhance soft X-ray experimental capabilities through next-generation light source technology, providing higher-precision data support for quantum materials, microelectronics, energy technologies, biological structure research, and AI-assisted scientific research. The project team is working toward the 2029 target. Since the Advanced Light Source began operation in 1993, it has long served research across soft X-ray, ultraviolet, infrared, and hard X-ray wavelength ranges. Researchers worldwide have used the facility's focused beams to observe molecular and material structures at the atomic scale, with results cited in over 18,000 papers...

2026-08-25

Russia's SKIF "Microfocus" experimental station to conduct elemental and structural studies of ores

The Microfocus station, the first experimental station of the Siberian Circular Photon Source (SKIF) Phase 1, will be used to study the elemental composition and structural characteristics of samples in fields such as geology, geophysics, microelectronics, and materials science. The station is being created and integrated by Tomsk Polytechnic University and will in the future serve the exploration and development of hard-to-recover gold, platinum, rare earth elements, and oil reserves. According to reports, the first experiments at the Microfocus station will focus on ore sample studies. Such research is an important step in the development of new deposits, helping researchers more accurately assess deposit reserves, select more suitable extraction methods, and identify promising areas for subsequent exploration. The station employs...

2026-08-25