Optimization of sample thickness for small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)

Abstract

In small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments, there exists an optimal sample thickness to obtain measurements with the maximum signal-to-noise ratio and best statistics. In practice, the sample thickness may deviate from the optimal value due to certain conditions. For thick samples, smearing may appear for the scattering data and an equivalent sample position to compute the scattering vector. Calculations show that the sample thickness has a similar effect on SAXS for monodisperse and polydisperse systems. Qualitative and quantitative analysis has been performed to determine the deviation of equivalent sample position from the irradiated sample center.

Keywords:

• Equivalent sample position
• monodisperse system
• polydisperse system
• sample thickness
• small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the HEPS, a major national science and technology complex in China. This work was also partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1910206), the National Key R & D Program of China (2017YFA0403000), and the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (J21-22-604).