- Material Science: Studying the microstructure of materials
- Nanotechnology: Investigating nanostructures and devices
- Catalysis: Visualising catalyst structures and their transformations during reactions, to optimise catalyst design and improve efficiency
- Energy storage: The detailed examination of battery materials and their behaviour during charge and discharge cycles.
Applications of SXM
Technique
- Pharmaceuticals and medicine: Imaging cells and tissues at high resolution. Enabling the study of drug delivery mechanisms, the interaction of drugs with cells, and the structural analysis of complex biomolecules.
- Polymer science: The detailed imaging of polymer structures and their properties. This capability is crucial for developing new polymers with tailored characteristics for specific applications, such as lightweight materials for aerospace, biodegradable plastics, and high-strength composites.
- Environmental chemistry: Analysing the composition and distribution of contaminants in soil, water, and air, at the molecular level, to develop more effective remediation strategies.
- Biomaterials: Insights into the structural and functional properties of materials designed for medical applications, such as implants and tissue engineering.