Local Structure Analysis Research Articles

The effect of morphology on the optical and electrical properties of sodium titanate nanostructures

Sodium based titanate nanostructures (NaTNT) are promising materials for energy storage and photoelectrode applications. We present an experimental work describing the structural, morphological and electronic properties of hydrothermally synthesized NaTNT, evaluating different synthesis conditions (synthesis temperature and time). We found a clear dependence between the synthesis condition and the observed, morphological, electrical and optical features. Increasing synthesis time and decreasing temperature allow the nanotubes to be filled. Local and extended structural analysis, and Raman spectroscopy, supported the samples stoichiometry with a pentacoordinated Ti-O polyhedral. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed a predominant two-transport mechanism; however, a third process was observed for two samples with particular morphology (nanorods and nanoparticles co-existing with nanotubes). Finally, the influence on the optical properties of the structural and morphological characteristic is determined and discussed. We found a reduction of the gap energies when compared with anatase. Additionally, from the photoluminescence response we suggest different kind of defects must be present in the samples. This work presents a very complete set of experimental tools for the analysis of NaTNT, showing how the synthesis conditions allow tuning the electrical and optical responses of NaTNT for energy storage and photoelectrode applications.

Synthesis and characterizations of graphene/Sm doped BiFeO3 composites photoanode for efficient photo-electrochemical water splitting

The present study features Bi1-xSmxFeO3 (BSFO) nanoparticles anchored on high-quality, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets via a two-step ultrasonication method for photo-electrochemical (PEC) studies relating to solar hydrogen generation. Sm doping leads to the formation of pure BFO type phase without any secondary phases. The structural, morphological, optical, and local structure analyses of BSFO and BSFO@RGO have been done through X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, UV–Vis spectrophotometer, and Raman spectrometer, respectively. The BSFO nanoparticles have been templated on reduced graphene oxide. The BSFO@RGO has been employed as a photoanode for PEC measurements under the simulated solar irradiation of intensity 100 mW-cm−1. The optimum photoanode has been found with Bi0.95S0.05FO3@RGO. The highest photocurrent density and solar to hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency have been found as 2.40 mA/cm2 (at 0.5 V vs. saturated calomel electrode) and 2.45%, respectively. Furthermore, the stability of the photoanode against photo corrosion has also been tested by the chronoamperometric technique. During 2 h experiment, the average photocurrent density has been maintained at 1.5 mA/cm2 (at 0 V vs. SCE). The improved photocatalytic activity of BSFO@RGO has been explained based on the effect of doping, better solar spectral response, hindering the recombination loss of photo-generated charge carriers, and fast, facile charge transport. Although earlier studies have used Bi(Sm)FeO3 photoanode, hydrogen production has been observed for the first time in the present investigation to the best of our knowledge. Also, it appears that hydrogen production at zero external bias as observed in the present study suggests a new feature for bandgap tailored BFO.

Average and local structure analysis of Na/Li ion-exchanged Lix(Mn,Ni,Ti)O2 using synchrotron X-ray and neutron sources

Mn-rich layered Lix(Mn,Ni,Ti)O2 was synthesized by Na/Li ion exchange of a P3-Na0.7(Mn,Ni,Ti)O2 precursor. The combined chemical analysis with the ICP-AES, titration technique, and XANES indicated that their electroneutralities were satisfied in some vacancies of the transition metals (TMs). Average structure analyzed using synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction patterns confirmed a significant amount of vacancies at TM sites and further revealed the existence of a minor tetrahedral Li in the layered rock-salt type Lix(Mn,Ni,Ti)O2. Electrochemical properties of Li0.6Na0.02Mn0.71Ni0.13Ti0.12□0.04O2 exhibited high first discharge capacity of ca. 250 mAh g−1 and high cyclability of exceeding 200 mAh g−1 at the 50th cycle. PDF analysis achieved good fittings for the both total scatterings of synchrotron X-ray and neutron with additional tetrahedral Li and some TM vacancies. Each (Mn,Ni,Co)O6 octahedron in the refined local structure was calculated and expressed as 3D distributions, where the NiO6 and the host MnO6 octahedra were visually characterized as significantly less distorted and highly distorted octahedra, respectively. The co-substitution of Ni2+ ant Ti4+ played the role of stabilizing whole structure and preserving the transition metal vacancy to maintain the high capacity during cycles.

Oxygen vacancy mediated room temperature ferromagnetism in Cu-doped LiNbO3 thin films

Room temperature ferromagnetic Cu-doped LiNbO3 thin films with Cu contents of 2–8 at.% were deposited by RF-magnetron sputtering. X-ray absorption spectroscopy together with multiple-scattering ab initio theoretical calculations at Cu K-edge revealed the incorporation of Cu ions into Nb sites in the LiNbO3 host lattice with divalent valence state. The detailed local structural analysis also confirmed that oxygen vacancies are present in the nearest coordination shell of the Cu atoms. The activated ferromagnetism in the Cu-doped LiNbO3 is intrinsic and probably originates from indirect interactions between the oxygen vacancies and dopant ions, which forms bound magnetic polarons and overlapping polaron orbitals, resulting in stable ferromagnetic ordering. These results present a practical method of triggering room temperature ferromagnetism in non-magnetic Cu element doped LiNbO3 systems with oxygen defects, which helps elucidate the origin of ferromagnetism in perovskite ferroelectric oxides.

Homology-mediated inter-chromosomal interactions in hexaploid wheat lead to specific subgenome territories following polyploidization and introgression

BackgroundPolyploidization and introgression are major events driving plant genome evolution and influencing crop breeding. However, the mechanisms underlying the higher-order chromatin organization of subgenomes and alien chromosomes are largely unknown.ResultsWe probe the three-dimensional chromatin architecture of Aikang 58 (AK58), a widely cultivated allohexaploid wheat variety in China carrying the 1RS/1BL translocation chromosome. The regions involved in inter-chromosomal interactions, both within and between subgenomes, have highly similar sequences. Subgenome-specific territories tend to be connected by subgenome-dominant homologous transposable elements (TEs). The alien 1RS chromosomal arm, which was introgressed from rye and differs from its wheat counterpart, has relatively few inter-chromosome interactions with wheat chromosomes. An analysis of local chromatin structures reveals topologically associating domain (TAD)-like regions covering 52% of the AK58 genome, the boundaries of which are enriched with active genes, zinc-finger factor-binding motifs, CHH methylation, and 24-nt small RNAs. The chromatin loops are mostly localized around TAD boundaries, and the number of gene loops is positively associated with gene activity.ConclusionsThe present study reveals the impact of the genetic sequence context on the higher-order chromatin structure and subgenome stability in hexaploid wheat. Specifically, we characterized the sequence homology-mediated inter-chromosome interactions and the non-canonical role of subgenome-biased TEs. Our findings may have profound implications for future investigations of the interplay between genetic sequences and higher-order structures and their consequences on polyploid genome evolution and introgression-based breeding of crop plants.

Curating consent: sexual violence, moral politics and gendered agency in Sudan

ABSTRACT This article seeks to move beyond the impasse between the anthropological tradition (that remains cautious to condemn human rights violations defined by “universal” standards), and the international community (which advocates such “universal” norms). In line with feminist anthropological work in northeast Africa that has advanced understandings of gendered agency in Islamic and patriarchal cultures, I suggest that a careful analysis of plural local normative structures is necessary to understand any practice of women’s subordination and potential for agency. Two registers of justice are in circulation, in which ideals of feminine agency are made explicit. Women and girls who cannot identify their experience through either register of justice may not seek to report it. This helps account for why neither register of justice is useful to the majority of Sudanese women, but this seemingly impossible situation does not determine their capacity for agency. I draw inspiration from post-colonial feminism and Science and Technology Studies (STS) approaches where the “culture” of sexual violence in Sudan is arguably a “translation” of Sudan’s national and transnational moral politics into the micropolitics of power among women and men in an inevitably plural post-colonial setting. Thus agency here is also “doing postcolonial gender.”

A Proposal of Mode Polynomials for Efficient Use of Component Mode Synthesis and Methodology to Simplify the Calculation of the Connecting Beams

Analytical method using Rayleigh–Ritz method has not been widely used recently due to intensive use of finite element analysis (FEA). However as long as suitable mode functions together with component mode synthesis (CMS) can be provided, Rayleigh–Ritz method is still useful for the vibration analysis of many local structures in a ship such as tanks and supports for an equipment. In this study, polynomials which combines a simple and a fixed support have been proposed for the satisfaction of boundary conditions at a junction. Higher order polynomials have been generated using those suggested by Bhat. Since higher order polynomials used only satisfy geometrical boundary conditions, two ways are tried. One neglects moment continuity and the other satisfies moment continuity by sum of mode polynomials. Numerical analysis have been performed for typical shapes, which can generate easily more complicated structures. Comparison with FEA result shows good agreements enough to be used for practical purpose. Frequently dynamic behavior of one specific subcomponent is more concerned. In this case suitable way to estimate dynamic and static coupling of subcomponents connected to this specific subcomponent should be provided, which is not easy task. Elimination of generalized coordinates for subcomponents by mode by mode satisfaction of boundary conditions has been proposed. These results are still very useful for initial guidance.

Remotely control Eu2+ emissions by modulating structural ordering of PO4 anion-groups in (Sr3-xCax)Ce(PO4)3:Eu2+ phosphors

Spectrally tunable phosphors have been extensively studied for their potential applications in phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes and display devices. Herein, we synthesize a series of color-tunable (Sr2.95-xCax)Ce(PO4)3:0.05Eu2+ (x = 0–2.95) phosphors via solid-state reaction, which are designed by using eulytite-type phosphate with different PO4 structural ordering, viz., Sr3Ce(PO4)3:Eu2+ with disordered state of PO4 tetrahedrons, and Ca3Ce(PO4)3:Eu2+ with ordered state of PO4 tetrahedrons. In Sr3Ce(PO4)3:Eu2+, the successive substitution of Sr by Ca causes microstructural transformation of PO4 tetrahedrons from disordered state to ordered state. Strikingly, the disorder-to-ordered microstructural variation of PO4 anion-groups remotely controls Eu2+ emissions, yielding adjustable emission from yellow-green to yellow and then green emission and fine tailoring of photoluminescence excitation spectra, which are demonstrated by an in-depth local structure analysis of X-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron paramagnetic resonance. This work provides a deeper understanding on how structural ordering degree affects the local structures of Eu2+ centers.

Local structure analysis of amorphous materials by angstrom-beam electron diffraction.

The structure analysis of amorphous materials still leaves much room for improvement. Owing to the lack of translational or rotational symmetry of amorphous materials, it is important to develop a different approach from that used for crystals for the structure analysis of amorphous materials. Here, the angstrom-beam electron diffraction method was used to obtain the local structure information of amorphous materials at a sub-nanometre scale. In addition, we discussed the relationship between the global and local diffraction intensities of amorphous structures, and verified the effectiveness of the proposed method through basic diffraction simulations. Finally, some applications of the proposed method to structural and functional amorphous materials are summarized.

Reducing of Grain Boundary Influences By Hybridization of Inorganic / Polymer Materials for Li-Conductive Solid Electrolyte

Introduction Recently, rechargeable batteries are strongly desired as energy storage systems. In particular, Li-ion batteries have been realized for practical use from consumer use (e.g., smartphone, laptop computer) to large-scaled energy storage devices such as for in/output control of renewable energy and electric vehicle owing to their high-energy-density and cycle performances. However, safety will be the most important demands with the scale of batteries, and many ignition accidents have been reported. ‘Solvent-free’ all-solid-state batteries exhibit quite high safety and have high-energy-density due to realization of thin-film electrolyte layer without separators. Generally, solid electrolytes are mainly categorized to polymer and inorganic electrolytes. Polymer electrolyte have a sufficient self-standing property, formability of stable interface with electrode and mechanical properties. However, it exhibits relatively low ionic conductivity and Li cation transport number. On the other hand, inorganic electrolyte shows relatively high ionic conductivity, even though it have grain boundary (GB) and be easily broken by external force (e.g. dropping and expansion / contraction with charge-discharge processes). Therefore, in this study, we propose polymer / inorganic hybrid electrolyte for usage of both advantages. Hybrid electrolytes of P(EO/PO) network polymer and two-types of Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) presence/absence GB resistance were investigated for developing high-performance all-solid-state Li batteries. Experimental Sample preparation All samples were prepared in a glove box under Ar atmosphere. LiN(SO2CF3)2, rhombohedral (r, having GB resistances) and amorphous (a, not having GB resistances) LAGP (Toshima mfg.), DMPA (photo initiator) and acetonitrile (solvent) were dissolved into polyether-based macromonomer (P(EO/PO) (TA-210, Dai-ichi Kogyo Seiyaku)). Amount of LiTFSA was [Li]/[O]=0.1 per mole of oxygen units of P(EO/PO). Amount of hybridized LAGP((a) or (r)) were 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200 wt% with polymer electrolytes, respectively. Mixed samples were dried in vacuum for 12h to evaporate acetonitrile. Then the slurry was casted between two glass plates separated by spacers (Teflon sheet with a thickness of 0.5 mm) and radical polymerized by UV irradiation at 5 min. Measurements Ionic conductivities of hybrid solid electrolyte were measured by AC impedance method. In this study, we used two types of electrode, one is blocking electrode and the other is non-blocking electrode. First, blocking electrode cells (SUS / electrolyte (0.5 mm thickness) / SUS) were prepared Measurement samples were 12mm diameter disk. Frequency range is from 200kHz to 10mHz with 100 mV amplitude. Temperature range is 80oC to -30oC and all samples were thermally equilibrated at each temperature at least 1.5 h prior to the measurement. Secondly, non-blocking electrode cells (Li metal / electrolyte (0.5 mm thickness) / Li metal) were prepared. Measurement samples were 18mm diameter disk (diameter of Li metal were 16mm). Samples were measured under similar measurement conditions as above described.Additionally, molecular-level structures of prepared samples were analyzed by high-energy X-ray diffraction at SPring-8 (BL04B2). LAGP-free polyether electrolyte, Polyether/ LAGP(a)150wt% hybrid electrolyte and LAGP(a) powder were enclosed in a sample tube and measured. Results and discussion From the result of impedance measurement by blocking electrode systems, possibility of influence of GB may not appear when using an amorphous material was suggested. To compare the effects of GB, non-blocking electrode systems, led clear difference between amorphous and rhombohedral by the difference of frequency properties [1]. Fig.1 shows impedance spectrum of several electrolytes by non-blocking electrode systems. LAGP-free (0%) electrolyte showed two semicircular arcs and all amorphous LAGP systems also showed the two semicircular arcs. In both systems, high and low frequency components were assigned as bulk resistance and interfacial resistance with Li metal. However, rhombohedral LAGP systems showed clearly different spectrum. GB resistance appears between the two resistance components. This result shows that amorphous LAGP obtain no GB resistance component into hybrid electrolyte. By using amorphous inorganic electrolyte into polyether electrolyte, the influence of GB could be eliminated. Therefore, one of reducing technique of GB influences was established. Fig.2 shows radial distribution function of three samples. A periodic structure appeared in all electrolytes. The radial distribution function of hybrid electrolyte was confirmed between polyether electrolyte and LAGP powder. This result exhibits the spectral proximity, suggestion of good interfacial matching (effective interactions) between the polymer and the inorganic electrolyte. Moreover, this measurement method was also effective for the local structure analysis because of their ability to analyze hybrid material of amorphous polymer and inorganic systems. Conclusion From the standpoint of electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements, we clarified the influence of grain boundary by using amorphous inorganic electrolyte into polyether electrolyte.[1] M. Kato, K. Hiraoka, S. Seki, J. Electrochem. Soc., 167, 070559 (2020). Figure 1

Normal Mode Analysis for Connected Plate Structure Using Efficient Mode Polynomials with Component Mode Synthesis

In the engine room and stern adjacent to the main excitation force of the ship, there are many fuel and fresh water tank structures required for ship operation which are always exposed to vibrations. Therefore, it is necessary to review the anti-vibration design to prevent such vibration problems at the design stage, and for this reason, although commercial finite element analysis (FEA) programs are widely used, approximate analysis methods are still developed and used because of the limited time until modeling and analysis results are obtained. Until now, only known elastic boundary conditions have been used in many studies using approximate analysis methods used to calculate natural vibrations for beams or plates. However, many local structures, such as tank edges and equipment foundations, consist of connected structures and it is very difficult to find suitable elastic boundary conditions. Vibration analysis of many local structures in ships, such as tanks and supports for equipment, can be simplified by breaking them up into smaller subsystems which are related through geometrical conditions and natural conditions at junctions. In this study, polynomials for simple support and fixed support were proposed to represent each subsystem and a polynomial to be applied to the plate constituting the tank was proposed by combining them. Until now, there have been many studies on single beams or single plates for approximate analysis. However, there was no research on this to the extent that no reference material could be found for the connected structure. The proposed method has been applied to tanks which are bounded by bulkhead and a deck. The results of this study shows good agreements with those obtained by the FEA Software (Patran/Nastran).

Gas-Phase Resonance Raman Spectroscopy Combined with IR-Laser Ablation of a Droplet Beam: Local Structural Analysis of Myoglobin.

Gas phase spectroscopy is a powerful tool for examining fundamental chemical structures and properties free from solvent molecules. We developed a gas-phase resonance Raman spectroscopy combined with IR-laser ablation of a droplet beam, which allowed us to elucidate local structures around chromophores in gas-phase proteins and DNAs. To demonstrate the potential of this approach, we applied this method to myoglobin, one of the heme proteins, and elucidated its structures in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. The experimental spectra are compared with calculated spectra of stable heme structures for the structural determination. These results show the oxidation/spin states of the Fe atom in myoglobin in the gas phase and were compared with the aqueous solution from the obtained resonant Raman spectra. The present method gives an important tool to investigate the gas-phase structure of large biomolecules.

Một kỹ thuật xác định điểm bao phục vụ đánh giá sự thay đổi của vùng bất thường trên ảnh y tế

Assessing the growth or reduction of abnormal areas in medical imaging in general and tomography in particular is a greatly concerned and important research issue in recent years in Vietnam. The article presents a technique of identifying contour points of an abnormal area as a basis for later assessment of the development of abnormal area on medical imaging. The technique is based on the analysis of local structures in the vicinity of abnormal area boundaries combined with the use of convolutional neural networks and has been tested and evaluated based on 3D-IRCADb-01 sample data set with liver tumors.

Average and Local Crystal Structures of Multiferroic Eu1−xYxMnO3 (x = 0.2 and 0.4)

Crystal structures of the multiferroic Eu1−xYxMnO3 (x = 0.2, 0.4) are investigated from the point of view of average and local structure analyses using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray fluorescence holography (XFH). With increasing Y content, the lattice constants decrease and the orthorhombic distortions increase. The differences between the local structures around Eu and Y are observed in the reconstructed atomic images by XFH. x = 0.2 and 0.4 compounds exhibit different local distortions at Mn sites, whereas no characteristic difference is shown in the average structures. In this system, the long‐range structural coherence is likely to be maintained even with significant substitution of Y.

Inconsistency of neighborhood based on Voronoi tessellation and Euclidean distance

Voronoi tessellation (VT) is commonly used for spatial segmentation, surface reconstruction, local structure analysis, and so on. In VT two points are neighbors to each other if they share a common bisection-facet (edge in the two-dimensional case). Such definition of neighborhood is different from the concept based on Euclidean distance. In this paper, the inconsistency between Voronoi neighbors and Euclidean neighbors in 2D and 3D cases is discussed. The Voronoi Neighbor Anomaly (VNA) has been defined as that for a given atom, VT identifies farther atoms as neighbors but fail to identify nearer atoms as neighbors. The VNA is theoretically proved to be possible and the conditions are studied in 2D and 3D based on the Delaunay triangles and polyhedrons, respectively. Furthermore, by employing VT and the largest standard cluster analysis (LSCA) to quantify neighborhood between atoms to a MD simulated cooling of liquid metal Ta, the VNA cases are indeed found in the system. It is also shown that as the disordered degree of a system increases, the probability of VNA increases. These findings clarify a potential issue of VT in characterizing local structures, particularly disordered systems. The proposed VNA could be linked to other structural characteristics, which deserves further studies.

Anisotropic X-Ray Scattering of Transiently Oriented Water.

We study the structural dynamics of liquid water by time-resolved anisotropic x-ray scattering under the optical Kerr effect condition. In this way, we can separate the anisotropic scattering decay of 160fs from the delayed temperature increase of ∼0.1 K occurring at 1ps and quantify transient changes in the O-O pair distribution function. Polarizable molecular dynamics simulations reproduce well the experiment, indicating transient alignment of molecules along the electric field, which shortens the nearest-neighbor distances. In addition, analysis of the simulated water local structure provides evidence that two hypothesized fluctuating water configurations exhibit different polarizability.

Nanoscale structural analysis of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3

We investigate A-site cation ordering in the ferroelectric perovskite Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) by synchrotron X-ray total scattering. Although BNT has a problem of low depolarization temperature, it is a promising lead-free piezoelectric material. Since the depolarization temperature is presumed to correspond to a relaxor-like gradual order–disorder phase transition, local structural analysis is necessary to understand the structure of the disorder phase. Using this approach, we reveal the elusive connection between chemical and structural heterogeneity. The short-range order structure largely deviates from the rhombohedral average structure due to the off-center shift of Ti with large randomness. Consequently, the Ti off-center shift is averaged out beyond the unit cell and the structure becomes identical to the average structure beyond the unit cell. We further locate nanoscale regions of monoclinic distortion due to the heterogeneity of the A-site ion composition. The change in the short-range-order structure with distance can determine the BNT depolarization temperature. The results show necessary models to develop next generation novel piezoelectric materials.

Local Structure Analysis around Ti in Lead Zirconate Titanate by X‐Ray Fluorescence Holography

To clarify the mechanism of ferroelectricity in lead zirconate titanate (PZT), the local structure around Ti in a Pb(Zr0.7Ti0.3)O3 single crystal is investigated using X‐ray fluorescence holography. The raw hologram data are contaminated by periodic noise due to the fluctuation of the incident X‐ray intensity. The periodical noise is successfully removed using an inverse Fourier transformation method. From the filtered holograms, the atomic images around Ti can be reconstructed clearly. The reconstructions of B‐site cations demonstrate an outward displacement of the neighboring Ti from the ideal B‐site position, indicating an expansion of the local lattice around Ti. In addition, the splitting of Pb images is found, and the relative displacement between Ti and Pb atoms is deduced. These results contribute to the understanding of the local structure of PZT and can reveal the microscopic origins of very high dielectric and piezoelectric responses, which are essential for designing new and improved ferroelectric materials.

Effects of Mn Substitution on Magnetic Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles

Effects of Mn-substitution on magnetic properties of Zn1-xMnxO (MZO) nanoparticles with x= 0.00, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 have been investigated along with their local structure. Study on Mn K-edge XANES spectra of MZO reveals that the oxidation state increases by Mn-substitution, which further implies that MZO exhibits a mixed valence state of Mn3+/Mn4+. The local structure analysis on Mn K-edge EXAFS spectra shows that the coordination number (CN) of Mn reduces by increasing Mn concentration, thus the amount of oxygen vacancy (VO) increases by Mn-substitution. Interestingly, the magnetization of MZO also tend to increase as the Mn concentration increases. The M(H) curves exhibit a linear (paramagnetic) behavior, showing no evidence of room-temperature ferromagnetism. Our results show that magnetism of MZO is related to the correlation between Mn magnetic moment and VO.

Application of Anomalous X-ray Scattering Method to Liquid Electrolytes Used in a Battery: Local Structural Analysis around a Dilute Metallic Ion.

In liquid electrolytes used for a battery, various metal complexes are formed as a result of ion-solvent and ion-ion interactions, which strongly influence the properties of the electrolyte and thus the performance of the battery. Therefore, the structural characterization of such complexes is of great importance. In this study, the anomalous X-ray scattering (AXS) technique was applied to the potassium hydroxide solution including ∼0.3 mol % zinc, which is widely used in various batteries such as the alkaline battery. In spite of the small amount of the metallic ions, we have successfully extracted a local structure around zinc after careful data analysis. The obtained pair distribution function exhibited not only the short-range correlation corresponding to the Zn-O bond within the zincate anion but also a medium-range correlation above 3.5 Å. The present study demonstrates the capability of the AXS technique to detect local structures around dilute metallic ions in liquid electrolytes, which will largely extend the applicable range of this technique, especially to the field related to batteries.