A sealable ultrathin window sample cell for the study of liquids by means of soft X-ray spectroscopy

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments Vol. 88; no. 12; p. 123112
• Main Authors: Grötzsch, D, Streeck, C, Nietzold, C, Malzer, W, Mantouvalou, I, Nutsch, A, Dietrich, P, Unger, W, Beckhoff, B, Kanngießer, B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2017
• ISSN: 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/1.5006122

A new sample cell concept for the analysis of liquids or solid-liquid interfaces using soft X-ray spectroscopy is presented, which enables the complete sealing of the cell as well as the transport into vacuum via, for example, a load-lock system. The cell uses pressure monitoring and active as well as passive pressure regulation systems, thereby facilitating the full control over the pressure during filling, sealing, evacuation, and measurement. The cell design and sample preparation as well as the crucial sealing procedure are explained in detail. As a first proof-of-principle experiment, successful nitrogen K-edge fluorescence yield near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure experiments of a biomolecular solution are presented. For this purpose, it is shown that the careful evaluation of all involved parameters, such as window type or photon flux, is desirable for optimizing the experimental result.