A new cell for high temperature EXAFS measurements in molten rare earth fluorides

A new cell with simple design has been developed for high temperature X-rays absorption measurements in both solid and molten lanthanide fluorides. Two plates of pyrolitic boron nitride are fixed hermetically together around the samples in order to avoid any evaporation and atmosphere interaction. EXAFS spectra of molten mixtures of LiF-LaF3 measured at the La L-III absorption edge are reported up to 900 degreesC, and show the ability of this cell to keep the salt and to perform long time acquisition improving the signal to noise ratio. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.