Method Maps 3D Chemistry 43 Times Faster
A new X-ray fluorescence technique reconstructs three-dimensional chemical structures while omitting more than 97 per cent of the usual measurements.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Chemistry
Researchers developed an X-ray fluorescence method that mapped 3D chemical structures 43 times faster than conventional approaches. The technique uses more than 97 per cent fewer measurements than standard methods.
Why it matters
Faster, lower-measurement mapping could make better use of limited access to synchrotron facilities, which are in high demand worldwide. The approach may broaden how scientists examine the internal chemical makeup of materials.
The study reports a speed gain of 43 times and a reduction of more than 97 per cent in required measurements compared with conventional approaches. Whether these gains hold beyond the metal samples tested so far remains unverified.
The players
Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is an Israeli research university in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, where the research team is based.
European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF)
The ESRF is a large synchrotron research facility in Grenoble, France, that supported the work and provides access to X-ray beam time for scientists.
The details
The team placed a randomly patterned tungsten mask in the X-ray beam and rotated a sample containing copper, zirconium and silver. An algorithm then reconstructed the three-dimensional distribution of elements from the compressed measurements, locating microscopic metal wires and particles.
Timeline
• The article reporting the method was published on 4 November 2026.
Big Picture
The new work extends the team's earlier two-dimensional X-ray fluorescence ghost imaging method into three dimensions. It applies the same compressed-sensing idea to reconstruct full 3D chemical structures from far fewer measurements.
Faster mapping could shorten the time researchers spend on scarce synchrotron beam time, potentially speeding up studies of materials. Practical benefits for everyday products remain speculative until the method is tested on more complex samples.
The takeaway
Reducing the number of measurements needed to map a sample's internal chemistry could make advanced analysis faster and more accessible. Whether the approach transfers to biological and geological materials is the next key test.
Further reading
Explore more research on Chemistry to see how analytical techniques like this are developed.
More information
Read the original journal paper on the X-ray fluorescence method for full methodological details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Labmate online.
