Multi-modal X-ray microscopy for chemical analysis

The rapid developments in X-ray instrumentation and the associated analytical methods have demonstrated a tremendous impact on a wide range of fundamental and applied sciences. In these experiments, X-rays interact with the matter in different ways and, thus, carry a variety of information regarding the sample's physical and chemical properties. Therefore, a multi-modal experimental approach is powerful and broadly adopted. In particular, due to the structural complexity and chemical heterogeneity of real-world samples, a multi-modal Xray imaging method is emerging as a powerful and versatile tool. This article reviews the state-of-the-art developments in this domain by discussing several high-profile case studies in the fields of material-, chemical- and bio-research. We highlight that the integration of selected imaging modalities is driven by and is optimized for the needs of the respective scientific case. Finally, we provide our perspectives on the future developments and applications of multi-modal X-ray microscopy for chemical analysis.