Azimuthal‐rotation sample holder for molecular orientation analysis

• Published in: Journal of synchrotron radiation Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 1167 - 1171
• Main Authors: Harano, Takayuki, Takeichi, Yasuo, Ohigashi, Takuji, Shindo, Daisuke, Nemoto, Eiji, Wakabayashi, Daisuke, Yamashita, Shohei, Murao, Reiko, Kimura, Masao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 5 Abbey Square, Chester, Cheshire CH1 2HU, England International Union of Crystallography 01.09.2020; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: carbon; chemical structure; Density ratio; Dependence; Graphite; Optical density; orbital orientation; Research Papers; Roller bearings; Rotation; Sample holders; scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy; Vertical polarization; X‐ray absorption near edge
• ISSN: 1600-5775; 0909-0495; 1600-5775
• DOI: 10.1107/S160057752000990X

In this study, an azimuthal‐rotation sample holder compatible with scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy was developed. This holder exhibits improvement in the accuracy of rotation angles and reduces the displacement of the rotation axes during azimuthal rotation by using a crossed roller bearing. To evaluate the performance of the holder, the authors investigated the dependence of the optical density around the C K‐edge absorption of π‐orbital‐oriented domains in natural spherical graphite on the rotational angle by using linearly horizontally and vertically polarized undulator radiation. Based on the dependence of the optical density ratio between C 1s → π* and 1s → σ* excitation on the polarization angle of the X‐rays, the average two‐dimensional orientation angle of the π orbital in each position in a natural spherical graphite sample was visualized. An azimuthal‐rotation sample holder, with improvements in the rotation‐angle accuracy and rotation‐axes displacement during azimuthal rotation, was developed for molecular‐orientation analysis using scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy.