Argonne's Hard X-ray Nanoprobe provides new capability
to study nanoscale materials
Novel microscopy tool provides highest resolution for
hard X-rays
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ARGONNE, Ill. (June 24, 2008) — The Center
for Nanoscale Materials' (CNM)
newly operational Hard
X-ray Nanoprobe at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Argonne National Laboratory is one of the world's most powerful X-ray microscopes.
Funding for this research was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office
of Science, Office of Basic
Energy Sciences. The mission of the Basic Energy Sciences program – a
multipurpose, scientific research effort – is to foster and support fundamental
research to expand the scientific foundations for new and improved energy
technologies and for understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts
of energy use. |
It has been designed to study novel nanoscale materials and devices aimed
at, for example, harvesting solar energy more efficiently, providing more efficient
lighting or enabling next-generation computing. The weak interaction of hard
X-rays with matter allows researchers to penetrate into materials, look through
process gases and study sub-surface phenomena. At the same time, this property
also has made fabrication of efficient X-ray optics difficult, limiting the
degree to which hard X-rays can be focused.
Using advanced X-ray optics called Fresnel zone plates – similar in appearance
to the large Fresnel lenses used to reflect light in lighthouses – along with
a laser-based nanopositioning system, Argonne is able to focus X-rays to the
smallest spot yet achieved with this type of illumination source. The microscope
combines scanning-probe and full-field transmission imaging to create both
three-dimensional visualizations of complex systems and devices as well as
to perform sensitive quantitative analysis of elemental composition, chemical
states, crystallographic phase and strain.
"It's the highest resolution microscope of its type in the world right
now," acting CNM Division Director Stephen Streiffer said. "The Nanoprobe
is one of the tools that make the CNM unique."
The Nanoprobe uses X-rays with photon energies between 3-30 kiloelectron volts
to produce images with initially 30 nanometer resolution – roughly the size
of 100 atoms. As X-ray optics continue to improve and novel X-ray optics are
developed, it is anticipated that significantly higher spatial resolution will
be reached over the lifetime of the Nanoprobe.
The Hard X-ray Nanoprobe was designed, constructed and is operated in partnership
between the CNM and the X-ray
Science Division of the Advanced Photon
Source (APS) at Argonne. The CNM pursues the development and characterization of
novel nanoscale materials and devices. The capabilities of Argonne's Advanced
Photon Source play a key role in that their hard X-rays, used by the Nanoprobe
beamline, provide unprecedented capabilities to characterize very small structures.
“The instrument allows characterization of nanoscale materials and devices
in previously unavailable detail," said Nanoprobe Beamline director Jörg
Maser, "and is particularly well suited for the study of buried structures,
in real world environments and for dynamics."
The Nanoprobe became operational in October of 2007 and is open to all science
users based on peer review under the user programs of the APS and the CNM.
The CNM is a national user facility, providing tools and expertise for nanoscience
and nanotechnology research. Funding for this research was provided by the
U.S. Department of Energy, Office
of Science, Office of Basic
Energy Sciences.
The mission of the Basic Energy Sciences program – a multipurpose, scientific
research effort – is to foster and support fundamental research to expand the
scientific foundations for new and improved energy technologies and for understanding
and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy use.
Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers
together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems
in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne
conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every
scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from
hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies
to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership
and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60
nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago
Argonne, LLC for the U.S.
Department of Energy's Office
of Science.
For more information, please contact Brock Cooper (630/252-5565
or bcooper@anl.gov) at Argonne.
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