XRF

Micro-XRF Application Corner

Every challenge meets its solution

Micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) brings elemental information of a small target and elemental distribution covering centimeters square with spatial resolution to a microscopic level. The non-destructive elemental analysis technique widely contributes to various applications such as fuel cell material research, lithium-ion battery failure analysis, pharmaceuticals, gemology, agriculture, forensics, archaeology, electronics and more.

Fuel cell

Battery

Pharmaceuticals / Life science

Gemology / Jewelry

Agriculture / Plant Science / Environment

Forensics

Art / Archaeology

Electronics

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Fuel cell

Applications

  • Overview: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell material analyses using micro-XRF (Link)
  • Catalyst layer: Applications of micro-XRF for PEMFC catalyst research: Pt catalyst uniformity imaging and Pt loading mass determination (Link)
  • MEA: Non-destructive failure analysis of a commercial PEMFC using a micro-XRF with a super large chamber (Link)
  • MEA: Metal elusion imaging using micro-XRF to identify the root cause of PEMFC degradation (Link)
  • Membrane: Distribution imaging of Ce as radial quencher on a proton exchange membrane
  • Gas diffusion layer: Contamination analysis on carbon powder as gas diffusion layer material using XGT-9000


User Publications

  • Nature Scientific reports - 2024: Dynamic accelerated stress test and coupled on-line analysis program to elucidate aging process in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (Link)
  • ACS Applied Energy Materials -2024: Effect of microporous layer cracks on catalyst durability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells for heavy-duty applications (Link)
  • Nature Catalysis - 2023: Revealing in-plane movement of platinum in polymer electrolyte fuel cells after heavy-duty vehicle lifetime (Link)
  • Journal of Power Sources - 2022: Insight into carbon corrosion of different carbon supports for Pt-based electrocatalysts using accelerated stress tests in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (Link)
  • Journal of Materials Chemistry A - 2022: Correlating the morphological changes to electrochemical performance during carbon corrosion in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (Link)
  • Advanced  Energy Materials - 2021: Probing heterogeneous degradation of catalyst in PEM fuel cells under realistic automotive conditions with multi-modal techniques (Link)

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Batteries

Application notes

  • Reverse Engineering: Investigation on the Material Trends in Lithium-ion Battery (Link)
  • Cathode: Using micro-XRF for Al, Fe and Cu particle detection on a cathode sheet of lithium-ion battery (Link)
  • Cathode: Foreign particles analysis on a LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC) cathode material of lithium-ion Battery (Link)
  • Anode: Contamination analysis in anode powder in plastic bag
  • Anode: Contamination analysis on anode sheet
  • Separator: Foreign Particle Analysis on a Separator Film of Lithium-ion Battery

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Pharmaceutical / Life science

Application notes

  • Tissue: Zn imaging of ulcerated rat stomach tissue (Link)
  • Pharma: Multiple Characterizations of a Blister Pack Using the XGT-9000 (Link)
  • Pharma: Elemental distribution imaging of inorganic minerals on a multivitamin supplement tablet (Link)
  • Pharma: Failure analysis using micro-XRF: Elemental imaging of contaminations in a pharma product (Link)
  • Pharma: Micro-XRF for Counterfeit analysis of generic product and non-generic product


User Publications

  • Biomedical Research - 2024: Calcium phosphate controls nucleation and growth of calcium oxalate crystal phases in kidney stones (Link)
  • Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology - 2022 : Chromium distribution in an oropharyngeal aspiration model for hexavalent chromium in rats (Link)


User story (Science in Action Series)

  • Tracing toxic heavy metals in organisms using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) (Link)

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Gemology / Jewelry

Application notes

  • Ruby: Micro-XRF reveals ruby structure and composition (Link)
  • Ruby: Glass-Filled Ruby Characterization with the XGT-9000, HORIBA’s new micro-XRF (Link)
  • Inclusion: XRF micro-analysis of gemstone inclusions (Link)
  • Garnet: Small Garnet Characterization (Link)
  • Emerald: Non-destructive Screening to Find an Imitated Emerald Product (Link)
  • Pearl: Non-destructive elemental analysis on pearls on earrings (Link)
  • Tanzanite: Non-destructive Differentiation of an Imitated Tanzanite from a Real Tanzanite (Link)

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Agriculture / Plant Science / Environment

Application notes

  • Leaf: Plant science - Inorganic element imaging on a leaf using micro-XRF (Link)
  • Leaf: Elemental micro-analysis of leaves using EDXRF (Link)
  • Rice: Inorganic nutrient distribution imaging in a single rice grain using micro-XRF (Link)
  • Soil: Soil composition analysis using micro-XRF


User Publications

  • International Association of Wood Anatomists - 2025: Variations in concentrations of inorganic elements in the sapwood of Quercus serrata and their simple quantification using a handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Link)
  • Nature Plant - 2024: Novel lignin-based extracellular barrier in glandular trichome (Link)

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Forensic Science

Application notes

  • Fingerprint: Fingerprint imaging with micro-XRF (Link)
  • Questioned Document: The non-destructive identification of black ink in a tempered document using XGT-9000 (Link)
  • Imitated product: Non-destructive Screening to Find an Imitated Emerald (Link)
  • Imitated product: X-ray micro-analysis for pearl characterization in forensic science (Link)
  • GSR: Gunshot residue (GSR) analysis by micro-XRF (Link)
  • Trace evidence: Soil composition analysis using micro-XRF
  • Trace evidence: Elemental analysis of glass fragments by micro-XRF

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Art / Archaeology

Application notes

  • Beads: Spectroscopic Analysis Explains the Mystery of Dragonfly Eye Beads (Link)
  • Textile: Pigment identification of an old Japanese flag “Hinomaru” using micro-XRF and Raman microscopy (Link)
  • Illuminated manuscripts: Micro-XRF investigations of Books of Hours: Analyses of blue pigments in illuminated manuscript leaves from Books of Hours made in France in the 15th century (Link)
  • Painting: Micro-XRF for non-destructive analysis of museum and archaeological objects (Link)
  • Painting: Pigment analysis on an antique paper painting by micro-XRF with a super large chamber (Link)
  • Sword: Non-destructive elemental analysis on a Japanese sword by micro-XRF with a super large chamber (Link)

 

User Publications

  • Journal of the European Ceramic Society - 2024: Scientific and Simulation Study of the Manufacturing Technology of the Ancient Chinese Rare Hare’s Fur Glazed Bowl (Link)
  • Archaeometry - 2020: The Origins of Slip for High-Fired Chinese Ceramics: Evidence from Jiangdong-Type Calcium-Glaze Wares Unearthed from Two Han Dynasty Cemeteries in Zhejiang, East China (Link)

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Electronics

Application notes

  • Non-destructive thickness and composition analysis of NiP/Au plating on Cu contacts using micro-XRF (Link)
  • Non-destructive Failure Analysis on Electronic Components Using the XGT-9000 (Link)
  • Micro-XRF analysis for the Electronics Industry (Link)
  • Quality control and defect analysis in the electronics industry using micro-XRF (Link)
  • Fast thickness measurement of thin metal coatings by Micro-XRF (Link)

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