Nano-CT 3D X-ray microscopy

Explore Materials in 3D

Representative Nano-CT reconstructions from research conducted at WSU.

Zeiss Xradia 810 Ultra

The Zeiss Xradia 810 Ultra is a laboratory-based X-ray microscope for nondestructive three-dimensional imaging of internal microstructures. Using a chromium X-ray source, the system can achieve spatial resolution down to approximately 50 nm, enabling visualization of features such as crystallization, phase separation, porosity, interfaces, and internal defects.

Capbility

The Zeiss Xradia 810 Ultra is a nondestructive nanoscale X-ray microscope capable of high-resolution 2D and 3D imaging of internal microstructures. The instrument uses a chromium X-ray source and provides spatial resolution down to approximately 50 nm, enabling three-dimensional reconstruction and quantitative analysis of features that cannot be accessed by conventional optical microscopy or standard micro-CT.

Key capabilities include:

• Nondestructive 3D X-ray tomography
• Spatial resolution down to ~50 nm
• Visualization of internal pores, cracks, interfaces, particles, and microstructural features
• 3D reconstruction, virtual sectioning, and volumetric analysis
• Imaging of materials without physical sectioning or destructive sample preparation
• Suitable for battery materials, geological samples, porous materials, carbon fibers, catalyst substrates, fuel cells, and other heterogeneous materials
• Potential for in-situ/operando studies, including observation of battery structures during charge–discharge cycling

The instrument is available for WSU researchers as well as external academic, national laboratory, and industrial users through the IMR service center.

Nano-CT Applications

1. Glasses & Glass Ceramics

Phase separation, crystallization, dendritic growth, inclusions, and three-dimensional microstructure.

LaCaMo-X Imaging.

A) 5x OM, B,C) 2D nano-CT slices in powellite-containing and powellite-free regions, D,E) nano-CT 3D pseudo-segmented dendriticpowellite crystals and segmented phase separation.
Bussey et al., Materials Letters 369 (2024) 136688.

Barium borosilicate glass (BaBSiO Critical Sol).

Nano-CT images of phase separation in (1) 3D and (2) in 2D.
Bussey et al., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 600 (2023) 121987.

Eskolaite Crystals

Image of NABS.1-1S (A) and BSE image of eskolaite crystal in NABS.2-2S with a 10 µm scale bar (B), and eskolaite crystals imaged with nano-CT with a 10 µm.
Smith-Gray et al., J. Non-Cryst. Solids 597 (2022) 121924.

2. Nuclear Materials

Three-dimensional characterization of nanopores, phase distributions, internal defects, and material interfaces in tritiated ceramics, nuclear waste forms, and related nuclear materials.

UO2

Scan of UO₂ sintered ceramic (cone produced by focused ion beam) with voids visible in blue as determined from software analysis of the tomography.

Aqueous Alteration of Nuclear Waste Glass

Time-resolved nano-CT imaging reveals the growth of a lower-density alteration layer in ISG-2 glass during exposure to deionized water at 150 °C.
Weber et al., MRS Advances 9 (2024) 467–472.

3D Microstructure of Nuclear Glass–Refractory Interactions

Nano-CT imaging of a research-scale melter sample. (A) Projection mosaic; (B) 2D image showing low- and high-Z/density phases; (C) 3D rendering highlighting the lower-Z/density regions.
Smith-Gray et al., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. (2022), jace.18706.

3. Batteries

Three-dimensional visualization of electrode particles, porosity, cracks, interfaces, and internal structural evolution in battery materials.

Sulfur Distribution in Li–S Cathode Particles

X-ray nano-computed tomography (nano-CT) images of sulfur concentration distribution in (a) NKB11, (b) NKB12, and (c) NKB15. The scale bar is 6 µm. (d)
Discharge and charge curves of different NKB/S electrodes in the first cycle. (e) Discharge and charge curves of different NKB/S electrodes after 40 cycles. (f) Cyclingperformance of different NKB/S electrodes in 40 cycles
Feng et al., Nano Energy 103 (2022) 107794.

SeS₂ Battery Cathode

The 3D reconstruction images of SeS2@KB600 nanocomposite. (a) The overall, (b) internal, and (c) zoomed-in reconstruction images of SeS2@KB600. 2Dsliced images from (d) X–Y, (e) X-Z, and (f) Y-Z plane views obtained under high-resolution phase contrast mode (HRES-PHASE, 50 nm resolution), and theircorresponding magnified images. The HRES-PHASE mode was used to exactly distinguish the distribution of SeS2 within well-interconnected KB600 host. Blue andyellow represent KB600 particle and SeS2, respectively.

Dong et al., Nano Energy 69 (2020) 104434.

4. Archeological Materials

Archaeological Cartonnage Fragment

CMNH 4209-12). a 2D
X-ray transmission image of uppermost surface of the mounted microsampleshown in (b). c, d X-ray tomograph virtual slices showing complex microstructure derived from full tomograph shown in (e) in a false color intensity scale (field of view65 μm width).
McCloy et al., npj Heritage Science 13 (2025) 202.

Contact

For research collaborations, sample feasibility, and nano-CT imaging inquiries, please contact:

Prof. John S. McCloy
john.mccloy@wsu.edu

John M. Bussey
john.bussey@wsu.edu