DOE OSTI · 3375139
Time-resolved chemically-selective spectroscopic investigation of the redox reaction between hematite and aluminium
Abstract
Thermite reactions –highly energetic redox processes between a metal and an oxide—are used in welding, propulsion, and the fabrication of advanced materials. When reduced to the nanoscale, these reactions exhibit enhanced energetic performance, but their ultrafast dynamics remain poorly understood. Gaining insight into charge transfer during these processes is essential for advancing applications in energy conversion and materials design. Here we show that the reaction between aluminium and hematite, a common iron oxide, can be tracked with femtosecond resolution using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) time-resolved absorption spectroscopy at the Fe M 2,3 and Al L 2,3 edges. By exciting the system with an ultrashort optical pulse and probing element-specific absorption changes, we observe an early spectral shift that reveals the formation of localized charge carriers (polarons). Comparing samples with different supporting substrates highlights ultrafast electron transfer from aluminium to hematite. These results demonstrate an approach to investigating charge flow in energetic materials and provide a basis for studying fast chemical reactions with chemical specificity.
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Paltanin, Ettore [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy); Università degli Studi di Trieste (Italy)] (ORCID:0009000784905884), Pelli Cresi, Jacopo S. [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)], Principi, Emiliano [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)] (ORCID:000000027508462X), Lee, Wonseok [California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000310770511), Bencivenga, Filippo [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)], De Angelis, Dario [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy); CNR - Istituto Officina dei Materiali (IOM), Trieste (Italy)] (ORCID:0000000191996373), Foglia, Laura [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)] (ORCID:0000000222183886), Garzella, David [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)], Kurdi, Gabor [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)] (ORCID:0000000186003509), Manfredda, Michele [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)], Naumenko, Denys [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy); Infineon Technologies, Carinthia (Austria)], Simoncig, Alberto [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)], Cushing, Scott K. [California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)], Mincigrucci, Riccardo [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)], Masciovecchio, Claudio [Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste (Italy)] (ORCID:0000000285713522). 2025-08-07. Time-resolved chemically-selective spectroscopic investigation of the redox reaction between hematite and aluminium. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62436-z
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