Specimen Environments

Standard specimen supports for the I08-SXM:

Many of the experiments at I08-SXM deal with the interaction of organic and inorganic matter, and due to the high radiation dose applied to the specimen, the highest priority is liquid nitrogen, cryo-cooled specimen handling. Such includes special specimen preparation tools as for example a fast-freeze plunger to avoid ice-crystal formation, and a semi-automated LN2 specimen transfer system to minimise preparation to analysis times. The specimen transfer system can also be used for room temperature applications.

Cryo- and room-temperature specimen holder

I08-SXM specimen holder for cryo and room temperature operation is a customised Leica-type holder.

The specimen is clipped under the two Cu springs.

Other specimen environments currently under consideration or development:

• Static closed wet cell for in-situ analysis of chemical reactions and controlled temperature and pH, and electromagnetic biasing;
• Micro-fluidic cell for chemical reactions;
• Micro-heating devices with temperatures up to 200 deg Celsius.

Custom specimen environments can be implemented but this requires contacting us far in advance as the I08-SXM optomechanical geometry allows only very limited space.

Specimen thicknesses need to be adapted due to the absorption properties of X-rays at these photon energies. As a rule of thumb. organic matter gives good contrast for a few micron thickness, bulk metallic constituents should not exceed 50 - 100nm in thickness

 Specimen environments that are technically not feasible:

• Specimens that cannot be mounted on EM grids or TEM-type Si membranes;
• Specimen with thicknesses not adapted to allow sufficient X-ray transmission signals;
• Application of external magnetic fields;
• Cooling down liquid He temperatures;
• Heating of a specimen.