Chemical Mapping of Polymer Microstructure Using Soft X‐Ray Spectromicroscopy

Abstract

Recently, synchrotron-based soft X-ray spectromicroscopy techniques have been applied to studies of polymer microstructure at the ∼50 nm spatial scale. Functional group based chemical speciation and quantitative mapping is provided by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectral (NEXAFS) contrast. The techniques, sample data, and analysis methods of scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM) are outlined. The capabilities of STXM are illustrated by results from recent studies of (a) controlled release microcapsules and microspheres, (b) microcapsules being developed for gene therapy applications, (c) conducting polymer films studied in the presence of electrolyte and under potential control, and (d) studies of protein interactions with patterned polymer surfaces. In the latter area, the capabilities of STXM and X-PEEM are compared directly.

Composition and structural aspects of naturally occurring ferrihydrite

“…See Bluhm et al (2006) for a detailed description of this beamline. Protocols for data acquisition and processing can be found in Bluhm et al (2006) and Hitchcock (2001). Energy calibration for the C K-edge was performed using gaseous CO 2 ; quartz and gibbsite were used for Si K-edge and Al K-edge energy calibrations, respectively.…”

Characterization of Biomaterials by Soft X-Ray Spectromicroscopy

“…Comprehensive descriptions of the STXM beamline [50,51] and optics [52] are provided elsewhere. Briefly, X-rays from a bend magnet are focused by a toroidal mirror and a spherical grating monochromator selects X-rays of a specific energy with the coherence defined by one entrance and two orthogonal exit slits.…”