The EXAFS

The EXAFS technique is used primarily for investigations of disordered materials and amorphous solids. Figure 8.35(b) shows how interference occurs between the wave associated with a photoelectron generated on atom A and the waves scattered by nearest-neighbour atoms B in a crystalline material. 

The EXAFS method can be used for different elements in the same material or for different absorption edges, such as lx, 2s or 2p, in the same element. 

A wide selection of metal reference foils and powder films of ideal thickness for tranmission EXAFS is available from The EXAFS Materials Company, Danville, CA, USA. The transmission method is well-suited for in situ measurements of materials under industrially relevant conditions of extreme temperature and controlled atmosphere. Specially designed reactors for catalysis experiments and easy-... 

Figure 2 Molybdenum K-edge X-ray absorption spectrum, ln(i /i ) versus X-ray energy (eV), for molybdenum metal foil (25- jjn thick), obtained by transmission at 77 K with synchrotron radiation. The energy-dependent constructive and destructive interference of outgoing and backscattered photoelectrons at molybdenum produces the EXAFS peaks and valleys, respectively. The preedge and edge structures marked here are known together as X-ray absorption near edge structure, XANES and EXAFS are provided in a new compilation of literature entitled X-rsy Absorption Fine Structure (S.S. Hasain, ed.) Ellis Norwood, New York, 1991.

Figure 3 Schematic illustration of the EXAFS phenomenon (A) outgoing photoelectron (solid curve) from X-ray absorbing atom (B) destructive interference at the absorbing atom between outgoing (solid curve) and backscattered (dashed curve) photoelectron from neighboring atom (C) constructhra interference at the absorbing atom between outgoing (solid curve) and backscat-tared (dashed curve) photoelectron from neighboring atom. Adapted from T. M. Hayes and J. B. Boyce. Solid State Phys. 37.173,1982.

The Fourier transform of the EXAFS of Figure 5 is shown in Figure 6 as the solid curve It has two large peaks at 2.38 and 2.78 A as well as two small ones at 4.04 and 4.77 A. In this example, each peak is due to Mo—Mo backscattering. The peak positions are in excellent correspondence with the crystallographically determined radial distribution for molybdenum metal foil (bcc)— with Mo—Mo interatomic distances of2.725, 3.147, 4.450, and 5.218 A, respectively. The Fourier transform peaks are phase shifted by -0.39 A from the true distances. 

Unlike traditional surface science techniques (e.g., XPS, AES, and SIMS), EXAFS experiments do not routinely require ultrahigh vacuum equipment or electron- and ion-beam sources. Ultrahigh vacuum treatments and particle bombardment may alter the properties of the material under investigation. This is particularly important for accurate valence state determinations of transition metal elements that are susceptible to electron- and ion-beam reactions. Nevertheless, it is always more convenient to conduct experiments in one s own laboratory than at a Synchrotron radiation focility, which is therefore a significant drawback to the EXAFS technique. These focilities seldom provide timely access to beam lines for experimentation of a proprietary nature, and the logistical problems can be overwhelming. 

Figure 4 The EXAFS function X( )> weighted by 1, experimentei dete for % monoleyer...

Self-absorption occurs when the path-length is too large [35] and the X-rays emitted have a significant probability of being absorbed by the remainder of the sample before being detected. This has the consequence of reducing the amplitude of the EXAFS oscillations and producing erroneous results. As the sample becomes more dilute this probability decreases. All the atoms in the sample determine the amount of self-absorption hence the need for thin samples. 

Figure 4.1-11 The EXAFS data and pseudo-radial distribution functions of Co(ll) in (a) basic and (b) acidic chloroaluminate ionic liquid. Reproduced from reference 46 with permission.

In pyridinium chloride ionic liquids and in l,2-dimethyl-3-hexylimida2olium chloride ([HMMIMjCl), where the C(2) position is protected by a methyl group, only [PdClJ was observed, whereas in [HMIMjCl, the EXAFS showed the formation of a bis-carbene complex. In the presence of triphenylphosphine, Pd-P coordination was observed in all ionic liquids except where the carbene complex was formed. During the Heck reaction, the formation of palladium was found to be quicker than in the absence of reagents. Overall, the EXAFS showed the presence of small palladium clusters of approximately 1 nm diameter formed in solution. 

X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been performed on the isolated Rieske protein from bovine heart mitochondrial bc complex 69) as well as on the Rieske-type cluster in Burkholderia cepacia phthalate dioxygenase (PDO) (72). The analysis performed by Powers et al. 69) was significantly hampered by the fact that the presence of two histidine ligands was not fully recognized therefore, only the results obtained with the dioxygenase where the mononuclear iron has been depleted will be considered here. Table VII gives a comparison of the distances obtained from the fit of the EXAFS spectra assuming an idealized Rieske model and of the distances in the crystal structures... 

The iron K-edge EXAFS measurements on AVI " 182) and the extracted FeVaco from AcF 183) show Fe-S and Fe-Fe interactions at 2.32 and 2.64 A, with a longer Fe-Fe distance of 3.7 A very similar again to the EXAFS data on FeMoco. These data emphasize the structural similarities between the cofactor centers of the MoFe and VFe proteins. 

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