Broad spectrum element-specific X-ray imaging

In this article element-specific mapping using a broad-spectrum laboratory based X-ray source is reported. Element-specific and element-exempt images of silver nitrate and di-hydrated barium chloride have been obtained from raw images collected either side of the K-edges for silver and barium. The informed positioning of filters between the source and sample narrowed the X-ray spectra, thereby enhancing the final images. For barium, samples with a barium area density of less than 8×10 −5 g mm −2 have been analysed. The system used here can be employed for mapping the distribution of elements from the middle of the second row transition metals to the light lanthanides.