Technologies Available for License

2013-022: X-ray Scattering Sample Platform for Nanostructure Quantification

Invention: 2013-022

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 9,557,283 was issued on January 31, 2017

For technical and licensing related questions, email tcp@bnl.gov.

Summary

An accurate determination of the three-dimensional structure of thin nanostructured films remains a challenge. Atomic force microscopy or scanning electron microscopy, are typically used for nanometer-scale systems, but these have difficulties probing through the depth of materials, and generally cannot measure samples under realistic (in-situ) conditions. The technique, known as grazing incidence transmission x-ray scattering (GTSAXS) greatly improves the quality of data, allowing more complex structures to be solved. However, even the GTSAXS technique is limited to studies of relatively well-ordered nanosystems. A new sample platform was developed to improve quantification of the structural order of nanometer-scale systems. This platform improves the quality of x-ray scattering data (and thus structure determination) by engineering the sample-holding substrate, rather than either the sample itself or the x-ray instrument.

Description

The platform involves fabricated nanostructured sample holders on and in one or more comers of a substrate support where the sample material of interest is positioned at the comer of the substrate support. GTSAXS allows scattered x-ray rays to escape from the edge of the substrate. By arranging a sample/beam geometry where the scattering exits through the edge of the substrate, it is possible to record scattering images that are well described by straightforward (Born approximation) scattering models. As such, this platform is ideal for studying the size/shape of nanoparticles, finite-size nanoparticle aggregates, proteins and protein complexes, viruses, etc. It is equally well suited to studying bulk materials under confinement, including polymers and polymer blends, block- copolymers, nano-composites, nanoparticle packing, liquids, and others.

Journal Publication & Intellectual Property

• Grazing-incidence transmission X-ray scattering: surface scattering in the Born approximation (.pdf)
• US 9,557,283 B2 (.pdf)