Liquid Surface/Interface X-ray Scattering

Synchrotron x-ray surface scattering is the most powerful probe of molecular and mesoscale structure at liquid-vapor and liquid-liquid interfaces. The precise and flexible design of the liquid surface and interface reflectometer at NSF’s ChemMatCARS (APS, 15-ID-C) and the high brilliance and wide x-ray energy range (5-70 keV) offered in this third generation insertion device beamline provides a world-leading capability for the study of liquid surfaces and buried liquid-liquid interfaces.

References

• Liquid Surfaces and Interfaces: X-ray Synchrotron Methods (Peter S. Pershan and Mark L. Schlossman)
• Synchrotron X-Ray Scattering from Liquid Surfaces and Interfaces (Wei Bu and Mark L. Schlossman)
• Bu, Wei (2009) Thesis (PDF)
• Lectures of 2021 Data Analysis School on X-ray Scattering from Liquid Interfaces: PDF   Video

Scientific Scope

The scientific scope of the liquid surface and interface research at NSF’s ChemMatCARS is summarized as the follows:

Environmental chemistry at liquid interfaces

Including studies of solvent extraction separations, gas hydrate formation, natural organic matter, and nanoparticle toxicity

Chemistry of life processes and biomolecular materials

Including studies of peripheral membrane protein-lipid interactions, anti-microbial peptides, and functional peptide amphiphiles or hybrid bio-nanomaterials

Directed assembly for tailored functionality at liquid interfaces

Including studies of organic/inorganic nucleation and mineralization, elastic properties of nanoscopic films, and tunable polymer brushes with mesoscopic patterning

A full suite of x-ray surface scattering techniques is provided to measure atomic, molecular, and mesoscopic ordering at liquid interfaces, including resonant and non-resonant reflectivity, grazing-incidence diffraction and small angle scattering, surface fluorescence, surface diffuse scattering, and fast techniques, such as grazing incidence diffraction in the 1D pinhole geometry.