Description of a flexible cell for in situ X-ray and far-IR characterization of the surface of powdered materials

We have designed and realized a cell where a powdered sample, in form of self-supported pellet, can be (i) in situ heated up to 900 K, either under dynamical vacuum or in reducing/oxidizing atmosphere; (ii) contacted with the desired amount of adsorbed gas; (iii) cooled down to 77 K for measurements. The cell (transmission geometry) has been employed in X-ray absorption experiments at LURE DCI (EXAFS13) and ESRF (GILDA BN18 and ID24), in far-IR experiments at LURE Super-ACO (SIRLOIN) and in conventional mid-IR experiments in our laboratory, only by changing the windows (mylar, silicon and KBr, respectively). A brief overview on the results obtained with this cell is reported to illustrate the potentialities of the instrument. Literature. is quoted to allow possible in-depth study. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.