EXAFS Spectroscopy Laboratory (EXAFS Lab) focuses on the study of materials structure using synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
The aim of the laboratory is to develop the method of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and its application in material science, to maintain high ISSP UL potential in the field and to expand further the ISSP UL cooperation with the existing and new European Union synchrotron radiation centers.
Our experimental possibilities include but are not limited to several techniques such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy, confocal spectromicroscopy and X-ray diffraction.
We use advanced theoretical calculations and simulations of experimental data to gain insight on the structure-property relationships in materials.
Our laboratory is also involved in the teaching process at the University of Latvia and provides students with opportunities to participate in research activities during Bachelor, Master and Doctoral level programs.
| Scientific degree | Name Surname | Position | Contact information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr.phys. | Aleksejs Kuzmins | Head of the laboratory and Leading researcher | A.Kuzmin 67251691 |
| Dr.phys. | Andris Anspoks | Leading researcher | Andris.Anspoks 67251691 |
| Dr.phys. | Aleksandrs Kaļinko | Leading researcher | Aleksandrs.Kalinko 67251691 |
| Ph.D. | Inga Pudža | Researcher | Inga.Pudza 67251691 |
| Bc. | Jūlija Lukaševiča | Engineer | Julija.Lukasevica 67251691 |
| Bc. | Vitalijs Dimitrijevs | Engineer | Vitalijs.Dimitrijevs 67251691 |
| Mg. | Mārcis Lielbārdis | Engineer | Marcis.Lielbardis 67260787 |
| Andrejs Derbakovs | Laboratory Assistant | Andrejs.Derbakovs | |
| Aivars Rubenis | Laboratory Assistant | Aivars.Rubenis |
- Development of methods for the analysis and modelling of X-ray absorption spectra using different theoretical approaches.
We develop advanced data analysis methods for extracting structural information from X-ray absorption spectra.
- Development of new experimental methods and their applications in the field of X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
We are involved in the development and use of new experimental methods at synchrotron radiation centres.
- Study of structural properties of different materials using synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
We conduct systematic studies based on synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy to better understand and optimize the functional properties of various materials
Active projects:
European Regional Development Fund
Functional ink-jet printing of wireless energy systems (2021-2023)
Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 - EUROfusion
ODS steel development and fabrication using the STARS process (2021-2025)
Latvian Council of Science
Non-contact nanothermometry based on X-Ray absorbtion spectra (2023-2026)
Accomplished projects:
Postdoctoral
Horizon 2020 - EUROfusion
Latvian Council of Science
Development of X-ray sensitive hybrid organic-inorganic systems (2020-2022)
X-ray Absorption studies of metal hydrides under extreme pressure (XA-EXTREM) (2018-2020)
Local structure determination in functional materials from x-ray absorption spectra (2013-2016)
- The laboratory work on the study of the relationship between the structure and properties of copper molybdate was included in the yearbook of the Latvian Academy of Sciences for 2022.
- The work on "Explanation of the influence of the local atomic structure of molybdates and tungstates on their thermochromic and magnetic properties" is named by the Latvian Academy of Sciences among the most significant achievements in Latvian science in 2021.
- A review of modern methods for the analysis of X-ray absorption spectra based on molecular dynamics and reverse Monte Carlo simulations has been published (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2018.12.032).
- The work “Neural network approach to EXAFS analysis” (doi: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.225502) was recognized among the best at the ELETTRA synchrotron center in 2018 and included in ELETTRA Highlights 2018-2019.
- The work “Origin of pressure-induced metallization in Cu3N: an X-ray absorption spectroscopy study” (doi: 10.1002/pssb.201870141) was featured on Physica Status Solidi B journal cover.
Germany:
- DESY PETRA-III synchrotron center
- Institut für Werkstoffkunde, Leibniz Hannover University (Hannover)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) (Berlin)
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) (Berlin)
France:
- SOLEIL synchrotron center
Italy:
- ELETTRA synchrotron center
Portugal
- University of Minho
Spain:
- ALBA synchrotron center
- Ceit (San Sebastian)
Sweden:
- MaxIV synchrotron center
- KTH
- RISE Acreo
USA:
- Stony Brook University
Hungary:
- Wigner Research Centre for Physics
Russia:
- Department of Chemistry, St.Petersburg State University
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Moscow)
South Korea
- Yeungnam University (Gyeongsan)
2023
G. Bakradze, E. Welter, A. Kuzmin, Peculiarities of the local structure in new medium- and high-entropy, low-symmetry tungstates, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 172 (2023) 111052.
J. M. Ribeiro, F. J. Rodrigues, F. C. Correia, I. Pudza, A. Kuzmin, A. Kalinko, E. Welter, N. P. Barradas, E. Alves, A. P. LaGrow, O. Bondarchuk, A. Welle, A. Telfah, C. J. Tavares, The influence of Sb doping on the local structure and disorder in thermoelectric ZnO:Sb thin films, J. Alloys Compd. 939 (2023) 168751.
I. Pudza, K. Pudzs, A. Tokmakovs, N. R. Strautnieks, A. Kalinko, A. Kuzmin, Nanocrystalline CaWO4 and ZnWO4 tungstates for hybrid organic-inorganic X-ray detectors, Materials 16 (2023) 667.
2022
G. Bakradze, A. Kalinko, A. Kuzmin, Chemical-state analyses of Ni, Zn, and W ions in NiWO4-ZnWO4 solid solutions by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 161 (2022) 110425.
A. Smekhova, A. Kuzmin, K. Siemensmeyer, C. Luo, K. Chen, F. Radu, E. Weschke, U. Reinholz, A. Guilherme Buzanich, K. V. Yusenko, Al-driven peculiarities of local coordination and magnetic properties in single-phase Alx-CrFeCoNi high-entropy alloys, Nano Res. 15 (2022) 4845-4858.
A. Kuzmin, I. Pudza, K. Klementiev, In situ study of zinc peroxide decomposition to zinc oxide by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and reverse Monte Carlo simulations, Phys. Status Solidi B 259 (2022) 2200001.
I. Pudza, A. Anspoks, G. Aquilanti, A. Kuzmin, Revealing the local structure of CuMo1-xWxO4 solid solutions by multi-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Mater. Res. Bull. 153 (2022) 111910.
G. Krieke, G. Doke, A. Antuzevics, I.Pudza, A. Kuzmin, E. Welter, Tuneable persistent luminescence of novel Mg3Y2Ge3O12 garnet, J. Alloys Compd. 922 (2022) 166312.
G. Bakradze, A. Kuzmin, Octahedral tilting in homologous perovskites series CaMoO3-SrMoO3-BaMoO3 probed by temperature-dependent EXAFS spectroscopy, Materials 15 (2022) 7619.
2021
I. Pudza, A. Kalinko, A. Cintins, A. Kuzmin, Study of the thermochromic phase transition in CuMo1-xWxO4 solid solutions at the W L3-edge by resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy, Acta Mater. 205 (2021) 116581.
S. Kato, N. Nakajima, S. Yasui, S. Yasuhara, D. Fu, J. Adachi, H. Nitani, Y. Takeichi, A. Anspoks, Dielectric response of BaTiO3 electronic states under AC fields via microsecond time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Acta Mater. 207 (2021) 116681.
E. Butanovs, A. Kuzmin, S. Piskunov, K. Smits, A. Kalinko, B. Polyakov, Synthesis and characterization of GaN/ReS2, ZnS/ReS2 and ZnO/ReS2 core/shell nanowire heterostructures, Appl. Surf. Sci. 536 (2021) 147841.
J. Purans, A. P. Menushenkov, S. P. Besedin, A. A. Ivanov, V. S. Minkov, I. Pudza, A. Kuzmin, K. V. Klementiev, S. Pascarelli, O. Mathon, A. D. Rosa, T. Irifune, M. I. Eremets, Local electronic structure rearrangements and strong anharmonicity in YH3 under pressures up to 180 GPa, Nat. Commun. 12 (2021) 1765.
F. C. Correia, J. M. Ribeiro, A. Kuzmin, I. Pudza, A. Kalinko, E. Welter, A. Mendes, J. Rodrigues, N. Ben Sedrine, T. Monteiro, M. R. Correia, C. J. Tavares, The role of Ga and Bi doping on the local structure of transparent zinc oxide thin films, J. Alloys Compd. 870 (2021) 159489.
I. Pudza, A. Anspoks, A. Cintins, A. Kalinko, E. Welter, A. Kuzmin, The influence of Zn2+ ions on the local structure and thermochromic properties of Cu1-xZnxMoO4 solid solutions, Mater. Today Commun. 28 (2021) 102607.
G. Bakradze, A. Kalinko, A. Kuzmin, Evidence of dimerization of nickel ions in NiWO4 and ZncNi1-cWO4 solid solutions probed by EXAFS spectroscopy and reverse Monte Carlo simulations, Acta Mater. 217 (2021) 117171.
E. Butanovs, A. Zolotarjovs, A. Kuzmin, B. Polyakov, Nanoscale X-ray detectors based on individual CdS, SnO2 and ZnO nanowires, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 1014 (2021) 165736.
D. Bocharov, I. Pudza, K. Klementiev, M. Krack, A. Kuzmin, Study of high-temperature behaviour of ZnO by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Materials 14 (2021) 5206.
2020
A. Kuzmin, J. Timoshenko, A. Kalinko, I. Jonane, A. Anspoks, Treatment of disorder effects in X-ray absorption spectra beyond the conventional approach, Rad. Phys. Chem. 175 (2020) 108112.
A. Anspoks, C. Marini, T. Miyanaga, B. Joseph, A. Kuzmin, J. Purans, J. Timoshenko, A. Bussmann-Holder, Local structure of A-atom in ABO3 perovskites studies by RMC-EXAFS, Rad. Phys. Chem. 175 (2020) 108072.
I. Jonane, A. Cintins, A. Kalinko, R. Chernikov, A. Kuzmin, Low temperature X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of CuMoO4 and CuMo0.90W0.10O4 using reverse Monte-Carlo method, Rad. Phys. Chem. 175 (2020) 108411.
L. Nataf, F. Baudelet, A. Polian, I. Jonane, A. Anspoks, A. Kuzmin, T. Irifune, Recent progress in high-pressure X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies at the ODE beamline, High Pressure Res. 40 (2020) 82-87.
J.M. Ribeiro, F.C. Correia, A. Kuzmin, I. Jonane, M. Kong, A.R. Goni, J.S. Reparaz, A. Kalinko, E. Welter, C.J. Tavares, Influence of Nb-doping on the local structure and thermoelectric properties of transparent TiO2:Nb thin films, J. Alloys Compd. 838 (2020) 155561.
B. Polyakov, E. Butanovs, A. Ogurcovs, S. Vlassov, M. Zubkins, I. Jonane, A. Cintins, A. Kalinko, A. Kuzmin, J. Purans, Understanding the conversion process of magnetron-deposited thin films of amorphous ReOx to crystalline ReO3 upon thermal annealing, Cryst. Growth Des. 20 (2020) 6147-6156.
2019
I. Jonane, A. Anspoks, G. Aquilanti, A. Kuzmin, High-temperature X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of thermochromic copper molybdate, Acta Mater. 179 (2019) 26-35.
S. Rahman, S. Samanta, A. Kuzmin, D. Errandonea, H. Saqib, D.L. Brewe, J. Kim, J. Lu, L. Wang, Tuning the photoresponse of nano-heterojunction: Pressure-induced inverse photoconductance in functionalized WO3 nanocuboids, Adv. Sci. (2019) 1901132:1-9.
T. Schenk, A. Anspoks, I. Jonane, R. Ignatans, B.S. Johnson, J.L. Jones, M. Tallarida, C. Marini, L. Simonelli, P. Hönicke, C. Richter, T. Mikolajick, U. Schroeder, Local structural investigation of hafnia-zirconia polymorphs in powders and thin films by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, Acta Mater. 180 (2019) 158-169.
2018
J.Timoshenko, A.Anspoks, A.Cintins, A.Kuzmin, J.Purans, A.I.Frenkel, Neural network approach for characterizing structural transformations by x‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 120 (2018) 225502:1‐6.
E. Butanovs, S. Vlassov, A. Kuzmin, S. Piskunov, J. Butikova, B. Polyakov, Fast-response single-nanowire photodetector based on ZnO/WS2 core/shell heterostructures, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 10 (2018) 13869-13876.
I. Jonane, A. Anspoks, A. Kuzmin, Advanced approach to the local structure reconstruction and theory validation on the example of the W L3-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure of tungsten, Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 26 (2018) 025004 (11 pp).
I. Jonane, A. Cintins, A. Kalinko, R. Chernikov, A. Kuzmin, Probing the thermochromic phase transition in CuMoO4 by EXAFS spectroscopy, Phys. Status Solidi B 255 (2018) 1800074:1-5.
A. Kuzmin, A. Anspoks, A. Kalinko, J. Timoshenko, L. Nataf, F. Baudelet, T. Irifune, Origin of pressure-induced metallization in Cu3N: an X-ray absorption spectroscopy study, Phys. Status Solidi B 255 (2018) 1800073:1-6.
2017
J. Timoshenko, A. Anspoks, A. Kalinko, A. Kuzmin, Thermal disorder and correlation effects in anti-perovskite-type copper nitride, Acta Mater. 129 (2017) 61-71.
B. Polyakov, A. Kuzmin, S. Vlassov, E. Butanovs, J. Zideluns, J. Butikova, R. Kalendarev, M. Zubkins, A comparative study of heterostructured CuO/CuWO4 nanowires and thin films, J. Cryst. Growth 480 (2017) 78-84.
2016
A. Kuzmin, A. Anspoks, A. Kalinko, J. Timoshenko, The use of x-ray absorption spectra for validation of classical force-field models,
Z. Phys. Chem. 230 (2016) 537-549.
I. Jonane, K. Lazdins, J. Timoshenko, A. Kuzmin, J. Purans, P. Vladimirov, T. Gräning, J. Hoffmann, Temperature-dependent EXAFS study of the local structure and lattice dynamics in cubic Y2O3, J. Synchrotron Rad. 23 (2016) 510-518.
S. Piskunov, P. A. Žguns, D. Bocharov, A. Kuzmin, J. Purans, A. Kalinko, R. A. Evarestov, S. E. Ali, F. Rocca, Interpretation of unexpected behavior of infrared absorption spectra of ScF3 beyond the quasiharmonic approximation, Phys. Rev. B 93 (2016) 214101:1-9.
