PEM 2D XRF Analysis Software for Catalyst-Coated Membrane Cross-Sections

This dataset contains a Python/PyQt6-based graphical user interface for processing, visualizing, segmenting, and quantifying X-ray fluorescence (XRF) maps of PEM water electrolysis catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) cross-sections.

The workflow allows the loading and visualization of processed XRF TIFF stacks and individual TIFF images, where each map corresponds to the spatial distribution of an elemental fluorescence or absorption-contrast signal within a CCM cross-section.

The software includes tools for displaying Pt and Ir emission maps, extracting TIFF stack channel names, applying thresholding methods, generating binary masks, segmenting Nafion-rich membrane regions and catalyst-containing layers, and producing publication-style plots.

Implemented thresholding options include:

Manual thresholding
Minimum thresholding
Triangle thresholding
Otsu thresholding

The workflow also includes tools for fine-tuning the membrane segmentation, filtering dust or high-intensity artefacts, applying multi-Otsu segmentation to Nafion regions, and generating diagnostic plots such as emission maps, binary masks, segmented maps, histograms, and 3D intensity visualizations.
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In addition, the software provides a thickness-estimation workflow based on absorption-contrast images. The resulting thickness maps can be used for thickness-corrected quantification of elemental distributions within the membrane or catalyst-coated regions.

The script was developed using PEM water electrolysis CCM cross-section datasets as reference; therefore, the default variables, plotting settings, segmentation parameters, and quantification workflow follow this example application. However, these parameters can be modified and adapted to other compatible XRF map datasets.

Input data should consist of processed XRF maps exported in a compatible TIFF format, where each image or stack channel represents an elemental emission signal or absorption-contrast signal.

This repository represents the archived version associated with the corresponding scientific work. The actively maintained version of the code is available in the linked GitHub repository.

LINK: "https://github.com/Leonardolac97/PEM-XRF-evaluator/"