X-ray Computed Tomography Energy Selective Imaging

To develop and apply colour/hyperspectral CT imaging methods to correlate the structure and functionality of new materials for catalysis; batteries; nuclear waste storage/processing and tissue engineering. Spectroscopic imaging offers a unique insight into the structural and chemical properties of materials across wide range of subject areas by providing non-destructive 3D maps of changing crystal structures and elemental distributions. The methods we propose to develop can be applied to crystalline or amorphous materials by reconstructing images based on scattered rather than transmitted X-rays (e.g. XRD or PDF). Spectroscopic CT is ideal for the study of materials that are heavily encapsulated or contained inside steel/concrete shielding or inside a reaction vessel. High energy X-ray beams available at synchrotron sources (e.g. ESRF ID11, ID15, Diamond I12 or I15) can penetrate thick walled reaction vessels to probe chemical changes not accessible by any other method. Synchrotrons can deliver spatial resolutions defined by the size of the incoming beam which can be ~20 um. However, a major scientific goal of this proposal is to understand in-situ material stability and reaction pathways to a final product whilst the samples are subjected to (for example) electrical charge and discharge; gas flow; heat treatment; mechanical stresses; cell growth and acidic environments that cause internal corrosion. These studies can take place over days or even weeks and require careful sample control to achieve realistic and meaningful results. This PhD programme will take forward the build of a polychromatic X-ray colour imager in the Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility (HMXIF) at Manchester. The work packages we propose will deliver insights into the chemical and physical structure of materials under realistic processing; synthesis and long-term storage conditions to improve plant design or performance