Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure - Example of Significance

Example of Significance

EXAFS is, like NEXAFS/XANES, a highly sensitive technique with elemental specificity. As such, EXAFS is an extremely useful way to determine the chemical state of practically important species which occur in very low abundance or concentration. Frequent use of EXAFS occurs in environmental chemistry, where scientists try to understand the propagation of pollutants through an ecosystem. EXAFS can be used along with accelerator mass spectrometry in forensic examinations, particularly in nuclear non-proliferation applications.

For an example of an EXAFS study of uranium chemistry in glass see, and for a general study of trivalent lanthanides and actinides in chloride containing aqueous media can be read at