What is it about?

We have developed a special heating device that allows scientists to study how certain materials, called spin crossover (SCO) complexes, change their magnetic properties when heated. These changes happen at specific temperatures and are important for understanding how these materials work and how they could be used in new technologies. Our device keeps the temperature very stable, which is important for getting accurate results. We tested it using a particular SCO compound and showed that it works well, even at high temperatures. This setup can also be used to study other materials that need to be heated up to 500°C, like those used in energy and electronics research.

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Why is it important?

What makes this work stand out is the development of a compact and highly stable heating cell, which allows precise temperature control—crucial for accurately studying materials that change properties with heat. Its excellent temperature stability (it can be less than 0.05 °C variation) and minimal overheating make it ideal for sensitive experiments. The cell is also user-friendly, easy to handle, and versatile—it can be adapted for different experimental methods and materials. Thanks to its compact design, it can be positioned very close to the X-ray source. This innovation opens new possibilities for in situ studies of materials under heat, right in the lab or at large research facilities.

Perspectives

For me, this project reflects a growing shift in research toward in situ measurements—studying materials directly under the conditions where they function, rather than before or after. I believe this approach is becoming more and more important for truly understanding how complex systems behave in real time. Developing a tool that supports this kind of measurement, especially with such precision and flexibility, felt both timely and rewarding. It’s exciting to contribute something that can support not just my own research, but potentially a wide range of experiments in the broader materials science community.

Sebastian Praetz
Technische Universitat Berlin

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: In situ heating cell for temperature dependent transmission x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurement with a laboratory based spectrometer, Review of Scientific Instruments, March 2025, American Institute of Physics,
DOI: 10.1063/5.0253653.
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