Facilities for studying gas-solid interactions on beamline I11 at the Diamond Light
Source are described. Sample evolution in low and high gas pressure capillary cells
(1 × 10-7 to 100 bar) with non-contact cooling and heating (80 to 1273 K) can
be monitored structurally (X-rays) and spectroscopically (Raman). First results on the
dehydration of MgSO4.7H2O, the formation of CO2 clathrate
hydrate and the reaction of amorphous CaSiO3 grains with CO2 gas to
form CaCO3 are presented to demonstrate the application of these cells to
laboratory investigations involving the processing of cosmic dust simulants and planetary
materials analogues.