In TRXAS, a sample is exposed to short, intense pulses of X-rays. These X-rays interact with the atoms in the sample, causing them to absorb energy and eject core electrons. By measuring the energy and intensity of the ejected electrons, scientists can determine the local electronic and geometric structure around specific atoms. The "time-resolved" aspect comes into play by synchronizing the X-ray pulses with the catalytic reaction, capturing snapshots of the reaction at various stages. This allows for a detailed temporal resolution of the reaction pathway.
