SAXSpoint 700: SAXS Measurements of Nanomaterials under Ambient Conditions
In several cases, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies require the sample stage or the sample itself to be under ambient conditions. In the laboratory this can only be achieved with a well-designed, versatile and spacious measurement chamber. The air path needs to be kept as short as possible for suppressing air scattering, in particular when studying weakly scattering samples. The new multi-functional measurement chamber of the SAXSpoint 700 system ensures seamless integration of various sample environments and – as demonstrated in this report – produces excellent SAXS data of weakly scattering samples measured in air mode.
Introduction
Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) is an indispensable analytical technique for probing material structures at the nanometer scale, elucidating essential details about particle size, morphology, and spatial distribution within samples. SAXS provides structural insights that have made it a critical tool across fields such as materials science, polymer chemistry, and biology.(1)
Anton Paar’s new SAXSpoint 700 system, an advanced laboratory beamline for performing SAXS/ WAXS/GISAXS/USAXS and RheoSAXS. The system, enhances the determination of above-mentioned structural parameters of materials, especially in its air-mode configuration. This functionality provides unparalleled experimental flexibility and a broad compatibility with many samples, stages and setups.
A key advantage of conducting SAXS measurements in air is the significantly shorter sample changeover time compared to vacuum mode, which requires longer evacuation and venting times. Additionally, a SAXS system with air-mode functionality easily integrates experimental devices like rheometers or environmental cells, into the beam path, enabling in situ studies and real-time observation of dynamic, mechanically responsive samples as well as applications that require controlled environmental conditions around the sample.
The multifunctional measurement chamber of the SAXSpoint 700 system offers scientists to measure both under vacuum and ambient conditions (ambient pressure, air or inert gas atmosphere). A generous feed-through module, combined with a valid radiation protection concept, makes the instrument very flexible for integrating for integrating various sample environments. Here, we report on measurements of a weakly and a strongly scattering sample measured in both standard vacuum mode and air mode. Thanks to the optimized short air path of the SAXSpoint 700 instrument in air-mode, the same results are obtained as when measuring the samples in vacuum mode.
Reference
- Schnablegger H., Singh Y.; The SAXS Guide 5th edition (Rev. 1). Anton Paar GmbH, Austria 2024
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