I14 Latest news

I14 beamline scientist Jessica Walker visited the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, UK to present her research on coccolithophores using the capabilities of the beamline.

Thanks to the organisers for hosting a great meeting, with lots of excellent coccolithophore research shared and discussed!

Testing what cleans coin corrosion best!

I14 hosted three work experience students this year for a week of experiments all relating to corrosion.

The students made their own corroded iron and copper foils, looked at them in the optical microscope and on the beamline. They presented their work at the end of the week, with an excellent presentation in front of other students, parents and Diamond staff.

Well done and good luck for your future plans!

Beamline staff from I14 have been presenting their research at varied science conferences this summer, including a poster presentation by Miguel Gomez-Gonzalez at the Goldschmidt 2025 conference, Prague, and a talk given by Jessica Walker at the 17^th International Conference on Materials Chemistry in Edinburgh, both in July. Both shared techniques available on the beamline and how these are being applied to research questions.

Work from the beamline has recently been contributed to the Faraday Discussion meeting ‘Advanced Imaging Techniques in Biomineralization Research’ at a recent Royal Society of Chemistry meeting in Edinburgh in May 2025.

Papers featuring I14 data were discussed from beamline PhD student Reham Gonnah, beamline user Dan Chevrier, and by Imaging Group leader, Julia Parker and beamline scientist Jessica Walker.

It was great to discuss the work presented, and related topics with the biomineralization community, particularly challenges faced in sample preparation and beam damage.

At the start of March we hosted the Fundamentals of PyMCa and MANTiS for XRF and XANES data interpretation workshop 2025.

Jointly organised by the I14 and I18 beamlines, this workshop provided training for the analysis of elemental imaging XRF and XANES data from the nano- and micro- probes.

We had some expert introductions to each technique and each data analysis programme, before working through examples and on participants' own data, with help on hand. Thank you to everyone who attended, our speakers and the staff who worked together to make this event possible.

The grooved plastic films studied with X-ray microscopy.

Recent research conducted on the I14 beamline at Diamond has resulted in an innovation in solar cell design. The studies, conducted by the University of Sheffield, has led to the design of a cell that is more efficient, affordable, sustainable and accessible than traditional solar technology. The research, published in ACS Applied Energy Materials, highlights the development of this new type of solar cell which uses a perovskite semiconductor. Unlike other perovskite solar cells, these are made by embossing tiny grooves into a plastic film which are then filled with the perovskite material.  

Using this material eliminates the need for expensive and scarce materials like indium, which will make the new design both sustainable and affordable. The grooved plastic films are flexible and lightweight, making them ideal for surfaces that are not able to support the weight of traditional solar panels. This could change not just how we currently use solar power but opens new possibilities in locations and countries that lack the infrastructure necessary for solar technology.

Read the full article here.