In x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) the energy of the absorbed photon raises an electron from a deeply bound state into unoccupied bound states or it gains enough energy to escape the atom. The absorption spectrum thus contains detailed information about the density of empty states and allows conclusions about coordination, oxidation state and many more information about the local structure. If the energy of the the photon is sufficient to overcome the binding potential the electron the absorption probability is influenced by a electron scattering process from the local environment of the surrounding atoms. This technique called EXAFS and can be used to determine the local structure around the absorbing atoms.

The electrons filling the core hole that is generated during the absorption process emit x-ray photons whose energy can be analyzed. The fine structure of this x-ray emission (XES) give detailed information on the density of filled states and can be used due to the influence of spin-orbit coupling to track the oxidation and total spin state of the emitting atom.

Photons that are not absorbed can be elastically scattered. Since our interest lays primarily in the dynamics of molecules in solution this process can be used to study the relation of points of high electron density to each other. With other words we can use wide angle x-ray scatter (WAXS) also named x-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) to study structural dynamics in materials. This technique does, like the techniques above, not require that there is a relation between different molecules. Since we are missing the coherent amplification of crystals we can primarily study changes in structures with this technique.  

XAS, XES and XDS give complementary information and are used in combination depending on the capabilities of the instruments. Many of our studies use large scale research facilities like synchrotron- and free-electron-laser facilities. With these techniques we have successfully traced the electron transfer in complex molecules like the shown Ruthenium - Platinum complex with very high time-resolution. We are investigating novel iron-carbene complexes for solar light sensitization, light activated catalysts, novel polymer structures combining light sensitization and catalytic properties and novel nano dots for light sensitization and catalysis.

A large part of our research efforts is aimed to develop table-top systems capable of performing these measurements in a table-top setup.

Please see this side for more information on our efforts in table top spectroscopy

We also support the development of local facilities at the MaxIV laboratories and at the Lund Laser Center by e.g. advising and designing the experimental spectroscopy end-station at FEMTOMAX. 

In support of many other groups we also use x-ray photo electron spectroscopy to analyze the binding energy of electrons directly. The surface sensitivity of this technique makes it very suitable to investigate the binding and e.g. sensitization of surfaces or catalytic activities of materials.