Advances in quantitative electron probe microanalysis of lithium in different materials

International audienceElectron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is a reliable and widely used technique to do non-destructive, accurate material characterisation for scientific and industrial applications. Nevertheless, despite of the great interest in lithium (Li) and the urgent need to do accurate non-destructive analysis at a micron scale, quantification of Li using EPMA has not been performed successfully yet. Recently developed periodic multilayers allow spectroscopy in the energy range around the characteristic Li K emission ~50 eV but the detection and quantification of Li by a microprobe equipped with a bent crystal spectrometer and standard commercialised multilayers without diffraction gratings still is challenging