A molybdenum nanostructured-film target for tunable x-ray sources: surface-structure controllable preparing and radiation intensity selecting

Abstract

Tunable x-ray sources have attracted interest due to providing selective focal spots and radiation intensities for different specific uses. Surface-structure of the anode target has a non-negligible impact on the radiation intensity of x-ray sources. The metal molybdenum (Mo) Lα characteristic x-ray exhibits great potential in solving key scientific problems of material analysis. However, there is still a lack of research on how to flexibly use Mo structure targets to meet the application requirements of different x-ray radiation devices. The reliable preparation of Mo targets with suitable surface-structure is also a significant challenge, particularly for those nanostructured-film targets that cannot be machined. In this study, we successfully prepared a series of self-assembled Mo nanostructured-films with controllable surface structures as a class of reflection-type x-ray sources’ anode target. The structure-activity relationship between the Mo surface nanostructures and the radiating Lα x-ray performance at different anode target angles was studied in a reflecting device layout. Mo nanostructures with smoother surface typically show better radiation performance at small inclination angles (0° to 30°), while the Mo films with a large number of nanoparticles and rough surface exhibit advantages at large inclination angles (60° to 80°). The results provide a feasible scheme for the future application of multi-functional tunable x-ray sources.