Small-angle X-ray scattering at Uppsala University: Presentation of the local infrastructure

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a powerful technique for micro-structural characterization of materials including pharmaceutical formulations and biomaterials. It is widely used in investgations of systems containing nanoparticles, amphiphilic self-assemblies, microemulsions, emulsions, liquid crystalline phases, proteins and peptides, polymers, fibers, and thin solid films. In this seminar we will give an introduction to the technique and a description of the SAXS instrument recently installed at BMC by the Pharmaceutical Physical Chemistry group at the Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry. After the seminar there will be visit to the SAXS-lab.

The instrument is a combined small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering system (SAXS/WAXS) equipped with a Bonse Hart camera for measurements at ultra-small scattering angles (USAXS). It is suitable for characterization of particles and microstructures with characteristic length scales between 0.2 nm and 300 nm (USAXS: <5 µm). The system is equipped with a high flux x-ray source, point collimation system, 2D detector, flexible control system and basic data reduction software. The system provides high angular resolution data in a wide q-range and absolute intensity measurements. The sample stage/environment can handle many different types of samples including liquids, pastes, gels and solids, in a wide temperature range. It is equipped with a low-noise flow-through cell for liquids. Samples can be investigated in vacuum or under ambient pressure.