1. Overview
The Xenocs Xeuss 3.0 is a high-performance Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS) instrument designed for advanced structural characterization of materials at the nanoscale. It provides high-resolution measurements of particle size, shape, internal structure, and hierarchical organization over a wide q-range. Compatible with a broad range of sample types, including powders, films, gels, and liquids, the Xeuss 3.0 supports diverse research needs in both solid and solution environments. Equipped with high-brilliance microfocus X-ray sources, advanced collimation, and state-of-the-art detectors, the Xeuss 3.0 supports both solid and liquid samples, enabling in situ, time-resolved, and temperature-controlled studies for academic research and industrial R&D.
2.Principle
The Xeuss 3.0 operates based on X-ray scattering, where a monochromatic X-ray beam interacts with the electron density contrast within a sample. The system collects scattered X-rays at different angles to reveal structural information:
- SAXS (Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering):
Provides information on nanoscale structures (1–200 nm), including particle size, shape, aggregation, and pore structure. - WAXS (Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering):
Captures higher-angle scattering to analyze crystalline phases, polymer crystallinity, lattice spacing, and molecular packing. - q-range coverage:
The instrument can be configured to cover ultra-low to high q-ranges, enabling analysis from sub-nanometer to hundreds of nanometers. - In situ capabilities:
Temperature-controlled experiments (–50 to 280 °C); humidity-controlled measurements; tensile and mechanical deformation tests; light exposure studies (UV and visible light). Compatible with temperature stages, humidity chambers, stretching cells, and flow cells for monitoring structural evolution during heating, cooling, deformation, or chemical reactions.
3. Data Interpretation
- Scattering intensity vs. q-plot: The primary output used to interpret nanostructural features.
- Particle size & size distribution: Obtained via Guinier analysis, pair-distance distribution functions (PDDF), or model fitting.
- Shape information: Spheres, rods, cylinders, lamellae, vesicles, fractal aggregates, and more can be modeled from the scattering curve.
- Crystallinity & phase identification (WAXS): Peaks reveal crystalline phases, d-spacing, and molecular packing characteristics.
- Porosity and internal structure: SAXS provides pore size, surface area, and hierarchical organization in materials.
- Time-resolved structural evolution: For kinetic studies such as polymer crystallization, gelation, nanoparticle assembly, or phase transitions.
4. Example Applications
Developing new materials and products with specific properties and functions requires deep knowledge of materials at the nanoscale.
The Xeuss 3.0 accelerates your research by rapidly providing structural information from the atomic- to nano-scale. With the Xeuss 3.0 you can perform Small- and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS) measurements in transmission or in Grazing Incidence (GI-SAXS/WAXS) to provide comprehensive structural information on all types of samples. In addition, in-situ experiments are also available where you can control external stimuli such as temperature, humidity level and stress.
Typical applications include:
- Polymers: Crystallinity, lamellar thickness, phase separation, block copolymer ordering, and crystallization rates
- Nanoparticles: Size, size distribution (from a few nanometers to >300 nm), aggregation behavior, core/shell structures, surface corona analysis
- Biomolecules: Protein size/shape analysis, folding–unfolding, aggregation, and structural stability
- Porous materials: Pore size distribution, hierarchical porosity in MOFs, zeolites, and carbon materials
- Thin films & coatings: Orientation, domain spacing, alignment under strain or annealing
- Colloids & emulsions: Stability, particle interactions, and structure–property relationships
- In situ studies: Heating/cooling, tensile tests, solvent exposure, and tracking chemical or structural evolution during reactions
- Nanomaterials organization: Atomic- to nano-scale structural ordering in bulk or at surfaces
- Alloys: Phase segregation and multi-phase structural analysis
5. Features
