Capabilities of the Imaging and Microscopy facilities
Diamond Light source allows users to access many different imaging techniques and modalities. Eight different facilities can be used to study samples, with various sizes and compositions, from large engineering components down to tiny cells and nanoparticles. Imaging techniques available at Diamond exploit the penetrating power of X-rays, allowing you to probe both interior structure of materials, and see internal or hidden components. Using different X-ray and Electron imaging techniques information can be obtained, at micro to atomic resolutions, of structure and porosity, crystal phase, chemical composition and speciation.
Related publication: Gomez-Gonzalez, M. A., Da Silva-Ferreira, T., Clark, N., Clough, R., Quinn, P. D., Parker, J. E., Toward Understanding the Environmental Risks of Combined Microplastics/Nanomaterials Exposures: Unveiling ZnO Transformations after Adsorption onto Polystyrene Microplastics in Environmental Solutions. Global Challenges 2023, 2300036.
https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202300036
The eight beamlines or facilities that make up Imaging and Microscopy at the UK’s Synchrotron.
1. I12 The Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing (JEEP) beamline (I12) produces high energy X-rays (53-150 keV) for imaging and diffraction of large or dense samples, and in situ processes such as high temperature or applying stress and strain that require large experimental rigs to be installed. I12 enables large complex experiments across fields including material, life, and heritage sciences.
2. I13-2 Imaging beamline is focussed on micro-and nano-tomography and provides multiscale imaging capabilities over three orders of magnitude in resolution. The beamline operates in the 8-30 keV energy range, offering a variety of imaging capabilities including in-line phase contrast imaging, full-field microscopy and grating interferometry.
3. 113-1 Coherence beamline is a hard X-ray beamline, operating in the 6-20 keV range. It specialises in high-speed, multiscale and multimodal coherent diffraction imaging and ptychography in both transmission and Bragg geometries. These methods provide nanoscale resolutions with a quantitative phase contrast and can often be combined with methods, such as tomography and XANES, and complementary signals, such as fluorescence and diffraction mapping.
4. I08 Scanning X-ray Microscopy beamline is for morphological, elemental and chemical speciation on a broad range of organic-inorganic interactions in a 250 - 4400 eV photon energy range, and sample investigations under ambient conditions. I08 has a range of applications including biological and biomedical sciences, earth and environmental science, geochemistry, and materials science.
5. I08-1 Soft X-ray spectro- and tomo-ptychography branchline (operating in the 250-2000 eV photon energy range) is a recent facility, growing in capabilities. Key developments focus on multi- dimensional spectroscopic ptychographic imaging of light elements including variable polarisation of X-rays.
6. I14, the Hard X-ray Nanoprobe beamline, provides a focussed beam of 50 nm for high resolution imaging of a wide range of samples using multiple techniques including X-ray fluorescence, diffraction, X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES), differential phase contrast imaging and ptychography. The beamline has a strong focus on in situ characterisation and provides environments for gas flow, heating, liquid and electrochemistry, while the flexible end station space enables integration of customised user sample environments.
7. DIAD (Dual Imaging and Diffraction) beamline provides simultaneous imaging and diffraction capabilities for advanced material and biological research. The beamline features a unique dual-beam setup, where one beam is optimised for high-resolution imaging, allowing for detailed visualisation of internal features and defects, while the other beam is tailored for diffraction, providing insights into the crystalline structure and phase composition. It supports both static and dynamic studies, enabling time-resolved experiments that can capture the evolution of materials under stress, temperature changes, and other environmental factors.
8. Electron Physical Science Imaging Centre (ePSIC) is a national facility for aberration corrected electron microscopy, established as a collaboration between Diamond, the University of Oxford and Johnson Matthey. ePSIC is equipped with two aberration corrected microscopes for studying materials at the atomic scale. The JEOL ARM300F is a double-corrected microscope dedicated to atomic scale imaging and 4D STEM studies. The JEOL ARM200F is a probe-corrected microscope that specializes in spectroscopic imaging with both EELS and EDX spectrometers.
For further information about Diamond’s Imaging and Microscopy group please visit:
https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Instruments/Imaging-and-Microscopy.html or contact Julia Parker, Science Group leader.
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www.labmate-online.com ERC Consolidator Grant awarded for groundbreaking brain MRI research
Christian Langkammer from the Department of Neurology at the Medical University of Graz has secured an ERC Consolidator Grant, one of Europe’s most prestigious research funding awards based on scientific excellence. The €2 million grant will support the expansion of his research group and enable the realisation of his project ‘WhatsMRI – Elemental and Structural Composition underlying Brain MRI’, which aims to uncover fundamental biophysical mechanisms underlying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is a widely used clinical imaging technology, with over 50,000 scanners worldwide performing more than 100 million diagnostic exams annually. Langkammer’s research focuses on the myelin sheath - a vital insulating layer around nerve fibres that ensures efficient electrical signal transmission essential for motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. The myelin sheath’s unique arrangement of lipids and proteins plays a critical role in its function. However, despite its importance, there is limited systematic understanding of how its chemical and structural changes influence quantitative MRI images. Langkammer’s project aims to bridge this knowledge gap, particularly in the context of neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis and the natural aging process. Langkammer’s innovative approach integrates post-mortem MRI scans of human brains with advanced analytical methods, including laser- ablation mass spectrometry for chemical analysis, synchrotron X-ray scattering to study material structures, and high-resolution microscopy. Additionally, mathematical modelling and simulation will be used to create a comprehensive model linking the microstructural properties of the brain to quantitative MRI parameters. The project aims to provide deeper insights into pathological brain alterations and develop a publicly accessible chemical and structural atlas of the human brain, serving as a valuable resource for research beyond MRI. Andrea Kurz, Rector of Med Uni Graz, expressed pride in Langkammer’s achievement: “Christian Langkammer is an innovative scientist whose work is internationally recognized. This ERC Consolidator Grant is not only a testament to his dedication but also a significant milestone for neuroscience at Med Uni Graz.” Christian Enzinger, Vice Rector for Research and International Relations, added: “This prestigious grant reinforces our university’s leadership in neuroscience. The interdisciplinary nature of this project will open new avenues in imaging research, and we are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure, including an ultra-high-field MRI scanner.” Christian Langkammer is an Associate Professor at the Department of Neurology. His academic career includes a PhD from Graz University of Technology and an Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship at the Martinos Center of Harvard Medical School in Boston. His research focuses on quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly brain iron mapping and the development of methods for quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
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Christian Langkammer. Credit: Med Uni Graz/Lunghammer
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