The IRIS infrared beamline at the BESSY II storage ring has recently been upgraded to include a nanospectroscopy and nanoimaging end station, allowing for spatial resolutions below 30 nanometres. This upgrade offers a fourth option for characterising materials, cells, and molecules on different length scales. The instrument is the only infrared beamline in Germany that is available to external user groups, making it highly sought after for research purposes.
Dr Ulrich Schade and his team are responsible for the development of the IRIS beamline and continuously strive to offer state-of-the-art experimental techniques in IR spectroscopy. In collaboration with the Institute of Chemistry at Humboldt University Berlin, they have built an infrared near-field microscope that allows for the resolution of structures smaller than a thousandth of the diameter of a human hair. This advancement enables researchers to study the innermost structures of biological systems, catalysts, polymers, and quantum materials with unprecedented detail.
The new nanospectroscopy end station at the IRIS beamline utilizes a scanning optical microscope for imaging and spectroscopy with infrared light. This technology offers a spatial resolution of more than 30 nm, allowing for the analysis of individual cellulose microfibrils and the imaging of cell structures. These capabilities demonstrate the potential for studying complex biological and chemical systems at a level of detail that was previously unattainable.
The availability of the IRIS beamline and its new nanospectroscopy end station to national and international user groups provides researchers with valuable resources for their studies. The ability to investigate materials, cells, and molecules with high spatial resolution offers new insights into their structures and properties. By offering unique experimental techniques in IR spectroscopy, the IRIS beamline contributes to advancing scientific knowledge and understanding in various fields of research.
The development of the nanospectroscopy end station at the IRIS beamline opens up new possibilities for studying a wide range of materials and systems at the nanoscale. Researchers can now explore the intricacies of biological systems, catalysts, polymers, and quantum materials with unprecedented precision and detail. This advancement represents a significant step forward in the field of infrared spectroscopy and offers researchers invaluable tools for their research endeavors.
In conclusion, the IRIS infrared beamline at the BESSY II storage ring has been enhanced with a new nanospectroscopy and nanoimaging end station, providing researchers with the opportunity to investigate materials, cells, and molecules with high spatial resolution. This technological advancement offers new possibilities for studying a wide range of complex systems and structures at the nanoscale. By offering unique experimental techniques in IR spectroscopy, the IRIS beamline continues to contribute to scientific progress and innovation in various research fields.
