Attachment 1 - Technical Specifications - Lab-Based X-Ray Micro-CT System.pdf

Attachment No. 1

Technical Specifications

"Lab-Based X-ray Micro-CT System"

August 25, 2025

BACKGROUND

This acquisition is for a new Lab-Based X-ray Micro-CT System to support NREL's critical objectives in Integrated Energy Pathways, Electrons to Molecules, and the Circular Economy for Energy Materials. The proposed new system will provide a new institutional capability among national labs and will support critical work performed by the Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Services (MTES), Materials, Chemical and Computational Science (MCCS), and the BioEconomy and Sustainable Transportation (BEST) directorates including fast 3D imaging of materials under stress such as energy storage materials, geothermal materials, and catalysts for bio-fuels.

OBJECTIVE

This project will purchase and install a Lab-Based X-ray Micro-CT System to characterize material microstructures for applications such as geo-materials, battery materials, catalysts, and advanced ceramics. The primary objective is to enable state-of-the-art, fast, time-resolved 3D imaging to track the morphological dynamics of materials. By integrating this hardware with NREL’s in-house software tools like MATBOX, NREL will further its position as a global leader in materials microstructural characterization and be well-positioned for upcoming funding opportunities. Finally, the system will support expanding NREL’s artificial intelligence (AI) - supported characterization tools through AI-assisted image reconstruction and processing.

SPECIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

• Facilitate user-programed imaging sequences through scripting.

• Achieve spatial resolution of up to 300 nm.

• Accommodate a field of view greater than 5 cm.

• Must have multiple magnification settings for different samples sizes and volumes.

• Must include integrated artificial intelligence (AI) features to significantly reduce CT acquisition times.

• Must be capable of sequential time-resolved 3D imaging (4D imaging) to track material dynamics under stress or stimulus.

• Must have region-of-interest imaging.

• Must facilitate tomogram acquisition times of less than 30 mins without significant image noise.

• Must facilitate image stitching.

• Must facilitate image blending of tomograms acquired using different accelerating voltages from 30 kV to 160kV.

• Must have automated filters and software-guidance to the optimal filter for a given sample.

OPTIONAL CAPABILITIES:

• In-situ stage compatibility for load testing

TECHNICAL OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

• The project is expected to be covered by existing facility hazard analysis and site Environment, Safety, Health & Quality programs. Any new risks must be mitigated to an acceptable level.

• The X-ray-producing equipment must be registered with the appropriate authorities upon commissioning.

Space Requirements/ Limitations

• Location: The system will be installed in the existing South Table Mountain (STM) / Thermal Test Facility (TTF) / 101-01 X-Ray Lab. Space exists already. The floor was previously designed with thicker concrete to support the weight of the system.

• NREL Site Ops Assistance: Site Operations assistance will be required for equipment delivery, rigging, placement, utility interconnections (including verification of electrical circuit breakers), and HVAC calibration.