Probing the in-plane composition of thin polymer films with grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering and atomic force microscopy

The surface morphologies of confined, dewetted polymer films were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS). On examining homopolymer films of deuterated polystyrene (dPS) both techniques reveal the resulting droplet structure which is described by one most prominent in-plane length. Due to the contrast resulting from deuteration in the case of polymer blend films of dPS and poly(p-methyl styrene) GISANS is able to probe the in-plane composition of the dewetting structure. An additional phase separation process at different length scales gives rise to a sub- and superstructure which is not detectable by AFM. In addition, the influence of the wavelength used in the GISANS experiments on the structures observed is discussed. Received: 13 April 1999 Accepted in revised form: 29 June 1999     

Interaction of blockcopolymer micelles as probed by small-angle neutron and by small-angle X-ray scattering

 The analysis of the interaction of micelles formed by a blockcopolymer is given by means of small-angle X-ray (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The blockcopolymer consists of poly(styrene) and poly(ethylene oxide) (molecular weight of each block: 1000 g/mol) and forms well-defined micelles (weight-association number: 400, weight-average diameter: 15.4 nm) in water. The internal structure has been studied previously (Macromolecules 29:4006 (1996)) by SAXS. There it has been shown that the micelles are spherical objects. The structure factor S(q) as a function of the scattering vector q (q=(4π/λ) sin (θ/2); λ: wavelength of the radiation in the medium; θ: scattering angle) can be extracted from both sets of small-angle scattering data (SANS: q≤0.4 nm^-1; SAXS: q≤0.6 nm^-1). It is shown that particle interaction in the present system can be described by assuming soft interaction which is modeled by a square-step potential. Received: 12 May 1997 Accepted: 9 July 1997     

Alamethicin–lipid interaction studied by energy dispersive X-ray diffraction

A detailed knowledge of the interaction between bacterial membranes and antibiotics provides important information to prevent high levels of antibiotic resistance exhibited by pathogenic strains. We investigated by energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXD) the structure ordering of dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) lipid interacting with antimicrobial peptide alamethicin, varying the lipid/peptide (L/P) molar ratio under two different hydration levels.In conditions of full hydration (100%) we found that the bilayer thickness is constant between L/P = 20 and L/P = 80 indicating that in this range, the system has reached the threshold value for the channel formation, while at the relative hydration of 45% a linear decrease of the bilayer thickness as function of L/P was revealed. The kinetic study of the complex alamethicin–DOPC at different L/P values, shows that the Bragg peak energy variation versus the hydration time has a biexponential behavior characterized by two different time constants.     

Determination of order parameter of YMn0.5Fe0.5O3 epitaxial thin films by anomalous X-ray scattering technique

The crystal structure of an orthorhombic YMn_0.5Fe_0.5O₃ (010) (YMFO) epitaxial films on YAlO₃(010) substrate was studied using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and anomalous X-ray diffraction techniques. Due to the utmost similar scattering factors of Mn and Fe atoms, it is hard to distinguish them at specific sites of the unit cell from the variations in the diffraction peak intensity. Therefore, anomalous X-ray scattering was used to determine the order or disorder structure of YMFO films. To estimate the order parameter of the YMFO film, the incident X-ray energies have been scanned around the Mn K-edge and Fe K-edge, resulting in enhanced diffraction intensities of the forbidden YMFO (010) peak by 15–20 times, respectively. This in turn revealed that YMFO films have a partially ordered structure of about 40 ± 10% in the epitaxially grown thin film.     

Arsenate incorporation in gypsum probed by neutron, X-ray scattering and density functional theory modeling

The ability of gypsum, a common sulfate mineral, to host arsenic atoms in its crystalline structure, is demonstrated through experimental structural studies of the solid solutions formed upon synthetic coprecipitation of gypsum (CaSO4 x 2 H2O) and arsenic. Neutron and X-ray diffraction methods show an enlargement of the gypsum unit cell proportional to the concentration of arsenic in the solids and to the pH solution value. The substitution of sulfate ions (SO4(2-)) by arsenate ions is shown to be more likely under alkaline conditions, where the HAsO4(2-) species predominates. A theoretical Density Functional Theory model of the arsenic-doped gypsum structure reproduces the experimental volume expansion. Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) measurements of the local structure around the arsenic atom in the coprecipitated solids confirm solid state substitution and allow some refinement of the local structure, corroborating the theoretical structure found in the simulations. The charge redistribution within the structure upon substitutions of either the protonated or the unprotonated arsenate species studied by means of Mulliken Population Analyses demonstrates an increase in the covalency in the interaction between Ca(2+) and AsO4(3-), whereas the interaction between Ca(2+) and HAsO4(2-) remains predominantly ionic.     

Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering from amphiphilic stimuli-responsive diamond-type bicontinuous cubic phase

The structural evolution of a diamond-type bicontinuous lipid cubic phase upon application of thermal and chemical (hydration agent) stimuli is investigated by means of small-angle neutron (SANS) and X-ray scattering (SAXS). The soft-matter cubic architecture responds by dramatic swelling (DLarge cubic structure) upon incorporation of a hydration-enhancing guest component (octyl glucoside) at low and ambient temperatures, the aqueous channel diameter increasing twice to approximately 7 nm. DLarge appears to be built up from an assembly of cubosomic domains, which may coexist with an amphiphilic lamellae domain at low temperatures. The chemical stimulus concentration can be selected as to tune the hydration of the nanochannels in the DLarge phase and its transformation into a DNormal phase at temperatures above the body temperature. Two-dimensional SANS images recorded upon heating scan reveal growth of spontaneously oriented domains of single-crystal cubic nature. Phase separation and squeezing out the guest-hydrating agent from the higher-curvature regions of the amphiphilic bilayer suggest a possible mechanism for the established transformations. The order-order structural transition, cubic DLarge-cubic DNormal, is found to be reversible upon cooling. The obtained results put forward a structure-based concept for release of encapsulated guest molecules from stimuli-responsive and self-regulated cubosomic nanocarriers.     

Alkoxy-derived multiscale porous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> gels probed by ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering

Titania (TiO₂) monoliths with well-defined bicontinuous macropores and gel skeletons were prepared through the alkoxy-derived sol–gel process accompanied by spinodal decomposition, and the structural evolution during evaporation drying and heat treatment was probed by a combination of ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering. X-ray scattering profiles of wet and dried gels revealed that microporous structures related to the existence of primary particles are present in the gel skeletons at the wet stage and are preserved during drying. Additionally, it is found that the primary particles swollen in the wet condition are dried to compact aggregates to produce the smooth surface of gel skeletons. Upon heating at 400 °C, the particle–particle correlation associated with regularity of mesostructures is enhanced. From nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, the average pore size is less than 1 nm in the dried gel and increases to 3.1 nm by the heat treatment. Homogeneous growth of primary particles due to interparticle-polycondensation reaction is responsible for the increased size and uniform distribution of mesopores in the heat-treated gel.     

X-ray and Raman study of spray pyrolysed vanadium oxide thin films

Vanadium oxide thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis using solutions of vanadium chloride (VCl₃) with different concentrations on glass substrates heated at 200 and 250 °C. The influence of substrate temperature (T_s) and solution concentration (molarity) on structural and vibrational properties is discussed by using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed that at 0.05 M and T_s = 200 °C, V₄O₉ thin films are obtained. At 250 °C, V₂O₅ phases with preferential orientation are observed and the films become polycrystalline when the molarity increases.     

X-ray absorption fine structure study of amorphous metal oxide thin films prepared by photochemical metalorganic deposition

The oxidation state and local geometry of the metal centers in amorphous thin films of Fe₂O₃ (Fe³⁺ oxidation state), CoFe₂O₄ (Co²⁺/Fe³⁺ oxidation states), and Cr₂O₃ (Cr³⁺ oxidation state) are determined using K edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy. The metal oxide thin films were prepared by the solid-state photochemical decomposition of the relevant metal 2-ethylhexanoates, spin cast as thin films. No peaks are observed in the X-ray diffraction patterns, indicating the metal oxides are X-ray amorphous. The oxidation state of the metals is determined from the edge position of the K absorption edges, and in the case of iron-containing samples, an analysis of the pre-edge peaks. In all cases, the EXAFS analysis indicates the first coordination shell consists of oxygen atoms in an octahedral geometry, with a second shell consisting of metals. No higher shells are observed beyond 3.5 Å for all samples, indicating the metal oxides are truly amorphous, consistent with X-ray diffraction results.     

Ultra-small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering study of colloidal dispersions

The ultra-small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering techniques are useful techniques for the investigation of colloidal systems. The very high small-angle resolution of these scattering techniques has provided important and novel information to elucidate the formation mechanism of colloidal crystals. The Bonse–Hart optical system is expected to become a standard tool for investigating mesoscopic structures.     

Effects of X-ray radiation on the surface chemical composition of plasma deposited thin fluorocarbon films

Different thin fluorocarbon (FC) films were deposited on Si(111) using plasma polymerisation and then exposed to X-ray radiation. Changes in the chemical composition of the deposited fluorocarbon films as a function of irradiation time were investigated in situ using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The evaluation of the C1s and F1s core level induced emission as a function of exposure to X-ray radiation (Mg Kα, hν = 1253.6 eV) reveals changes in the surface chemical composition of the FC polymer structure. The presented results indicate a high defluorination under X-ray irradiation. Additionally, binding energy shifts of the F1s and C1s peaks during the exposure associated with surface charging effects were observed. With ongoing exposure the surface charging decreases continuously and the FC surfaces become more conductive due to changes in the polymer structure. Different models have been used to describe the decomposition kinetics and surface composition.     

Dynamics of thin polymer films: Recent insights from incoherent neutron scattering

Incoherent neutron scattering is presented as a powerful tool for interpreting changes in molecular dynamics as a function of film thickness for a range of polymers. Motions on approximately nanosecond and faster timescales are quantified in terms of a mean-square atomic displacement (〈u²〉) from the Debye–Waller factor. Thin-film confinement generally leads to a reduction of 〈u²〉 in comparison with the bulk material, and this effect becomes especially pronounced when the film thickness approaches the unperturbed dimensions of the macromolecule. Generally, there is a suppression (never an enhancement) of 〈u²〉 at temperatures T above the bulk calorimetric glass-transition temperature (T_g). Below T_g, the reduction in the magnitude of 〈u²〉 depends on the polymer and the length scales being probed. Polymers with extensive segmental or local mobility in the glass are particularly susceptible to reductions of 〈u²〉 with confinement, especially at the Q vectors probing these longer length scales, whereas materials lacking these sub-T_g motions are relatively insensitive. Moreover, a reduced 〈u²〉 value correlates with reduced mobility at long time and spatial scales, as measured by diffusion in these thin polymer films. Finally, this reduced thin-film mobility is not reliably predicted by thermodynamic assessments of an apparent T_g, as measured by discontinuities or kinks in the T dependence of the thermal expansion, specific volume, index of refraction, specific heat, and so forth. These measurements illustrate that 〈u²〉 is a powerful and predictive tool for understanding dynamic changes in thin polymer films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 3218–3234, 2004     

Quantitative surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray excited auger electron spectroscopy

It is shown that X-ray excited KLL Auger electron spectra allow it to describe measured signal strengths similarly to X-ray photoelectron signals, thus offering valuable information on the quantitative surface composition of a solid sample. The principal equation and corresponding fundamental parameters are discussed. As a result Auger spectra of C, N, O, F, and Na can be easily used in a multiline approach for quantitative analysis. LMM and MNN spectra give rise to more problems, due to their more complicated structure, uncertainties with regard to the background and the influence of Coster-Kronig transitions. These problems are overcome by the use of empirical ratios of the strongest lines of 2p/LMM or 3d/MNN. Since these ratios are independent of sample composition, they allow it to transform the Auger signal into the corresponding photoelectron signal, provided that a standard sample has been measured. Thus a true additional information is obtained and moreover difficulties in cases of photoelectron spectra with overlapping lines from other chemical elements can be overcome.Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

New sights into the electrochemical interface provided by in situ X-ray absorption fine structure and surface X-ray scattering

Various important processes, such as electron transfer reactions, adsorption/desorption, solvation/desolvation, and formation/cleavage of chemical bonds, take place at electrolyte/electrode interfaces during electrocatalytic reactions. Those processes have been understood on the basis of changes in the surface composition, atomic arrangement, and molecular and electronic structures of the interfaces by using various in situ analysis techniques. To date, in situ analysis and observation of those interfacial processes at an ideal single-crystal surface are indispensable not only for fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanism but also for rational design of the highly efficient and durable electrocatalytic materials. Here, historical and recent progress of in situ studies on electrocatalytic reactions is briefly reviewed with a focus on two major techniques, X-ray absorption fine structure and surface X-ray scattering.     

X-ray scattering by black foam films

The x-ray scattering by the three types of black foam films (common black, Newton black, and stratified black films) was experimentally studied. A special device in which flat black films with an area of ca. 2 cm² can be produced was developed and x-ray diffraction patterns were obtained by a vertical diffractometer. The three types of films differ significantly in their x-ray reflections, which proves that they have different structure. For common black films, the comparison of observed and calculated intensities lead to a model, which corresponds to the three-layer model. The Newton black films exhibit diffraction trace with only one highly asymetric peak and there is, as of yet, no unambigous interpretation. The patterns of the stratified black films have several pronounced sharp peaks corresponding to the areas of different films with a given thickness.     

Probing the Roughness of Porphyrin Thin Films with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Thin-film growth of molecular systems is of interest for many applications, such as for instance organic electronics. In this study, we demonstrate how X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can be used to study the growth behavior of such molecular systems. In XPS, coverages are often calculated assuming a uniform thickness across a surface. This results in an error for rough films, and the magnitude of this error depends on the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons analyzed. We have used this kinetic-energy dependency to estimate the roughnesses of thin porphyrin films grown on rutile TiO₂(110). We used two different molecules: cobalt (II) monocarboxyphenyl-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (CoMCTPP), with carboxylic-acid anchor groups, and cobalt (II) tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP), without anchor groups. We find CoMCTPP to grow as rough films at room temperature across the studied coverage range, whereas for CoTPP the first two layers remain smooth and even; depositing additional CoTPP results in rough films. Although, XPS is not a common technique for measuring roughness, it is fast and provides information of both roughness and thickness in one measurement.     

Conformation, directed self-assembly and engineered modification: some recent near surface structure determinations by grazing incidence small angle X-ray and neutron scattering

Some recent developments in grazing incidence small angle scattering (GISAS) technique are reviewed. The emphasis is on the application of GISAS to elucidating the effects of geometrical surface constraint on self-assembled systems and the effect of modification of interfaces or molecular subassemblies to direct the formation of more complex structures.     

Silicon supported lipid-DNA thin film structures at varying temperature studied by energy dispersive X-ray diffraction and neutron reflectivity

Non-viral gene transfection by means of lipid-based nanosystems, such as solid supported lipid assemblies, is often limited due to their lack of stability and the consequent loss of efficiency. Therefore not only a detailed thermo-lyotropic study of these DNA-lipid complexes is necessary to understand their interaction mechanisms, but it can also be considered as a first step in conceiving and developing new transfection biosystems. The aim of our study is a structural characterization of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC)-dimethyl-dioctadecyl-ammonium bromide (DDAB)-DNA complex at varying temperature using the energy dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXD) and neutron reflectivity (NR) techniques. We have shown the formation of a novel thermo-lyotropic structure of DOPC/DDAB thin film self-organized in multi-lamellar planes on (100)-oriented silicon support by spin coating, thus enlightening its ability to include DNA strands. Our NR measurements indicate that the DOPC/DDAB/DNA complex forms temperature-dependent structures. At 65°C and relative humidity of 100% DNA fragments are buried between single lamellar leaflets constituting the hydrocarbon core of the lipid bilayers. This finding supports the consistency of the hydrophobic interaction model, which implies that the coupling between lipid tails and hypo-hydrated DNA single strands could be the driving force of DNA-lipid complexation. Upon cooling to 25°C, EDXD analysis points out that full-hydrated DOPC-DDAB-DNA can switch in a different metastable complex supposed to be driven by lipid heads-DNA electrostatic interaction. Thermotropic response analysis also clarifies that DOPC has a pivotal role in promoting the formation of our observed thermophylic silicon supported lipids-DNA assembly.     

Solvent entrainment in and flocculation of asphaltenic aggregates probed by small-angle neutron scattering

While small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has proven to be very useful for deducing the sizes and masses of asphaltenic aggregates in solution, care must be taken to account for solvation effects within the aggregates so as to not err in the characterization of these important systems. SANS measurements were performed on solutions of asphaltenes dispersed in deuterated solvents in which a broad spectrum of solute and solvent chemical compositions was represented. Fits to the scattering intensity curves were performed using the Guinier approximation, the Ornstein-Zernike (or Zimm) model, a mass-fractal model, and a polydisperse cylinder model. The mass-fractal model provided apparent fractal dimensions (2.2-3) for the aggregates that generally decreased with increasing aggregate size, indicating increased surface roughness for larger aggregates. The polydisperse cylinder model provided typical values of the particle thicknesses from 5 to 32 angstroms, the average particle radius from 25 to 125 angstroms, and approximately 30% radius polydispersity. Subsequent calculation of average aggregate molar masses suggested a range of solvent entrainment from 30 to 50% (v/v) within the aggregates that were consistent with previous viscosity measurements. Additional calculations were performed to estimate the proportion of microparticle to nanoparticle aggregates in the solutions. The results indicate that the inclusion of solvation effects is essential for the accurate determination of aggregate molecular weights and fractal dimensions.