In-situ/Operando XAS H-Cell (XAHC) — Dual-Compartment with Membrane

Overview

The In-situ/Operando XAS H-Cell (XAHC) is a dual-compartment electrochemical reaction cell designed for operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) at synchrotron beamlines. A replaceable ion-exchange membrane separates the anode and cathode chambers to reduce bulk crossover while maintaining an X-ray transparent measurement zone via Kapton window films. This configuration helps researchers correlate oxidation state, coordination environment (XANES/EXAFS), and electrochemical performance under realistic split-cell conditions.

Design and working principle

Electrolyte is contained in two chemically robust compartments aligned to the beam path. Under potentiostatic or galvanostatic control, catalyst structure and speciation can be monitored in real time during electrochemical reactions. Integrated gas inlet/outlet ports support controlled atmospheres (e.g., CO₂, N₂, Ar, O₂) and improved gas-tight operation—useful for gas-involved electrocatalysis and electrolysis workflows.

Key features

• Dual-compartment H-type architecture with replaceable membrane to minimise cross-contamination
• PEEK cell body for chemical resistance and beamline-friendly durability
• Kapton window compatibility for X-ray access (films typically user-supplied)
• Configurable 2-electrode or 3-electrode operation
• Customisable working electrode formats (e.g., foils, coated substrates, catalyst layers)
• Simple assembly and cleaning; cell volume can be tailored to experimental requirements
  
  

Compatibility and typical applications

Compatible with standard potentiostats/galvanostats and common reference/counter electrode options. Typical applications include:

• CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) with separate anodic OER compartment
• HER/OER mechanistic studies with controlled gas feed and crossover suppression
• Operando tracking of transition-metal catalysts, supported nanoparticles, and single-atom catalysts
• Membrane/compartmentalisation studies (selectivity, crossover, stability)
  
  

Why choose ScienceGears

ScienceGears supports researchers in Australia and New Zealand with local technical guidance and a coherent operando workflow ecosystem—pair this H-cell with potentiostats, complementary in-situ Raman spectroelectrochemical cells, or battery cyclers where multi-modal characterisation is required.