SEES | Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science

NSLS II XFM Beamline

Laboratory experiments with an Mn-rich paddy soil explore the impacts of Mn on biogeochemical processes controlling As solubility as shown through µXRF mapping.

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APS 13-IDE GSECARS, Microprobe

13 IDE x-ray microprobe experiment table for microfocused XRF, XAFS, and XRD analysis.

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APS, Scanning Electron Microscope Image GSECARS, SEM

Scanning electron photomicrograph of fragments of CR2 chondrite LAP 02342. From Lanzirotti et al. 2024.

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NSLS-II FIS beamline

Synchrotron infrared data shows that the Earth’s mantle can store water 400 to 650 km below the Earth’s surface.

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The mission of SEES (Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science) is to advance research and education in synchrotron-based Earth and environmental science to better understand our planet from the atmosphere to the core, to address societally relevant problems, and to train the next generation of scientists. SEES is responsible for the management, operation, and development of multiple user facilities hosted at four DOE-operated US synchrotrons: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Advanced Light Source (ALS), National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).

Recent Publications

Compositional effect on pressure-induced polymorphism in high-entropy alloys

Dec 5, 2024

Zhang, Fei, Hongbo Lou, Yuxin Liu, Zhidan Zeng, Xiehang Chen, Vitali Prakapenka, Eran Greenberg et al. “Compositional effect on pressure-induced polymorphism in high-entropy alloys.” Materials Today Chemistry 42 (2024): 102435.

Fragmenting the Kagomé Lattice: Pressure-Tuned Anisotropy ofCu2+ Triangles in a Novel Atacamite Relative CaCu(OH)3Cl

Dec 2, 2024

Scott D. Ambos, Nicholas S. Manganaro, Matthew DeCapua, Dongzhou Zhang, Phuong Q. H. Nguyen, Jun Yan, and James P. S. Walsh, Fragmenting the Kagomé Lattice: Pressure-Tuned Anisotropy of Cu2+ Triangles in a Novel Atacamite Relative CaCu(OH)3Cl, The Journal of Physical Chemistry C Article ASAPDOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c07695

The mechanism behind pressure-induced isosymmetric second-order phase transitions

Dec 1, 2024

Zhong, Qifa, Jingui Xu, Dongzhou Zhang, Shanrong Zhang, Mengzeng Wu, Hailing Gu, Yi Zhou, and Dawei Fan. “The mechanism behind pressure-induced isosymmetric second-order phase transitions.” American Mineralogist (2024). https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2024-9497

Rare earth element (REE) speciation in municipal solid waste incineration ash

Nov 27, 2024

Yinghao Wen, Lei Hu, Pan Liu, Qian Wang, Estefania Garcia, Weiyao Yan, Yuanzhi Tang, “Rare earth element (REE) speciation in municipal solid waste incineration ash,” Appl. Geochem. 178, 106239 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2024.106239

Iron Bonding with Light Elements: Implications for Planetary Cores Beyond the Binary System

Nov 23, 2024

Yang, H.; Wang, W.; Mao, W.L. Iron Bonding with Light Elements: Implications for Planetary Cores Beyond the Binary System. Crystals 2024, 14, 1016. https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14121016

An oxygen fugacity-temperature-pressure-composition model for sulfide speciation in Mercurian magmas

Nov 19, 2024

Brendan A. Anzures, Stephen W. Parman, Ralph E. Milliken, Olivier Namur, Camille Cartier, Francis M. McCubbin, Kathleen E. Vander Kaaden, Kelsey Prissel, Kayla Iacovino, Antonio Lanzirotti, Matthew Newville, “An oxygen fugacity-temperature-pressure-composition model for sulfide speciation in Mercurian magmas,” Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 388, 61-77 (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2024.11.012