extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy is a technique used to study the local atomic environment around specific atoms within a material. It involves analyzing how X-rays are absorbed by a sample. When X-rays strike a material, they can excite electrons from inner atomic orbitals. The way these excited electrons interact with surrounding atoms creates a fine structure in the X-ray absorption spectrum.12

This fine structure provides information about the number, type, and distance of neighboring atoms to the absorbing atom. EXAFS is particularly useful for analyzing the local atomic structure of materials, even in complex or disordered systems. It is distinct from electron spectroscopy, which measures the kinetic energy of emitted electrons.13