Simone Sala

Simone Sala works with materials characterisation techniques at synchrotron facilities, also known as large scale research infrastructures (LSRI), such as MAX IV in Lund. Since 2014 Simone has been working with different X-ray microscopy techniques, such as X-ray tomography and X-ray fluorescence microscopy. These are techniques aimed at producing 2D images and 3D representations of samples from a diverse range of research fields, from materials science to biomedical applications.

Simone is interested in investigating the structural, morphological and chemical properties of samples which are inhomogeneous at the microscale or nanoscale. As a member of the LSRI team at RISE, he assists other researchers from experiment design to data analysis. He is always keen on discussing new possible applications of synchrotron radiation and expand the user base of these user-oriented research facilities.

Competence in advanced materials characterisation techniques:
- X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XRF, XFM)
- X-ray imaging and X-ray tomography: microtomography (micro-CT, µCT), nanotomography, phase-contrast imaging, holography, ptychography
- X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS): X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, nano-XANES
- scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM)
- X-ray diffraction (XRD): scanning XRD, nano-XRD
- X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (XPEEM)
- X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS)

Example of samples recently investigated by LSRI techniques:
- metallic materials (steel, aluminium)
- residual streams (incineration ash, mine tailings)
- electrochemical cells (LIB)
- catalysts
- fibrous materials and textile
- magnetic nanoparticles
- porous drug carriers
- food products
- human tissue
- fossils