Coherent X-ray Imaging: From Pretty Picture Printer to Analytical Workhorse in Materials and Evironemtnal Sciences
Johannes Ihli, ALBA Synchrotron, Spain
Monday, 15 June 2026, 12.00 PM
ICMAB - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles and ONLINE (Register here)
Abstract
Coherent X-ray imaging techniques, or lensless imaging methods, exploit the high brightness and coherence of synchrotron light sources, such as ALBA here in Barcelona, to enable X-ray imaging beyond the limits of conventional optics. Among these methods, ptychographic tomography has evolved from visually striking demonstrations into a quantitative tool for three-dimensional materials characterization with nanometer resolution. This seminar will trace this development, from early high-resolution tomography to more recent advances that combine spectroscopic and microstructural contrast within a unified framework. These capabilities are enabled by ongoing progress in instrumentation, data acquisition, and reconstruction methods, which now also allow non-destructive studies of functional materials under realistic operating conditions with minute-scale temporal resolution. Examples from heterogeneous catalysis, energy storage materials, and geochemistry will illustrate how coherent X-ray imaging is becoming an analytical tool for studying complex material processes in situ and in three dimensions. Finally, I will briefly introduce CoDI, a new coherent imaging beamline under development for ALBA II, designed to extend these capabilities toward faster correlative in situ and operando measurements.
Short bio
Johannes Ihli is a Group Leader at ALBA Synchrotron, where he leads the development of the Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging (CoDI) beamline. His research focuses on the development and application of coherent X-ray imaging and diffraction methods for the characterization of functional and hierarchical materials. Before joining ALBA, he held positions at University of Oxford, ETH Zurich, and Paul Scherrer Institute, developing coherent diffraction and nanoprobe imaging methods for materials science and geoscience applications.
Hosted by Dino Tonti, from the SSC - NANOINTERFACES group (Materials for Energy Research Line)
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