A new cell for high temperature EXAFS measurements in molten rare earth fluorides

Abstract A new cell with simple design has been developed for high temperature X-rays absorption measurements in both solid and molten lanthanide fluorides. Two plates of pyrolitic boron nitride are fixed hermetically together around the samples in order to avoid any evaporation and atmosphere interaction. EXAFS spectra of molten mixtures of LiF–LaF 3 measured at the La L III absorption edge are reported up to 900 °C, and show the ability of this cell to keep the salt and to perform long time acquisition improving the signal to noise ratio.