Anton Parr SAXSess SAXS
Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is used to measure the elastic scattering from a material over an angular range of ca. 0.05 – 5°. These scattering profiles can be used to determine information about the sizes and shapes of, and the distance between, these structures. The ranges of sizes or distances that can be determined are typically on the order of a few to tens of nanometers (maximum for our instrument is around 50 nm) and the samples can be liquid or solid in nature.
Typical examples of the types of information that can be determined include measurements of: the size and shape of nanoparticles, polymers, proteins or micelles in solution; measurements of pore size and interpore spacing in mesoporous materials; characteristic length scales in partially ordered systems, e.g. block copolymers composites and gels; and interparticle interactions in colloidal dispersions. Hence SAXS has many applications in the fields of structural biology, chemistry, physics and engineering and sample types: e.g. polymers, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foods, catalysts, coal, membranes, and proteins.
The SAXS instrument within CMM is an Anton Paar SAXSess which is equipped with both CCD and image plate detection. The system uses a sealed X-ray tube and a Kratky camera (i.e. line collimation) which allows for the detection of dilute or weakly scattering systems. However in this geometry the systems must be isotropic in nature (i.e. not oriented). Currently we are able to measure a variety of sample types including liquid dispersions, films and finely ground powders over a range of temperature; ca. -20 – 100 °C, depending on the nature of the sample.
Location: Chemistry Building
Contact: A/Prof Kevin Jack on k.jack@uq.edu.au