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Abstract
The FlexiProb project is a joint effort of three soft matter groups at the Universities of Bielefeld, Darmstadt, and Munich with scientific support from the European Spallation Source (ESS), the small-K advanced diffractometer (SKADI) beamline development group of the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS), and the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ). Within this framework, a flexible and quickly interchangeable sample carrier system for small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) at the ESS was developed. In the present contribution, the development of a sample environment for the investigation of soft matter thin films with grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) is introduced. Therefore, components were assembled on an optical breadboard for the measurement of thin film samples under controlled ambient conditions, with adjustable temperature and humidity, as well as the optional in situ recording of the film thickness via spectral reflectance. Samples were placed in a 3D-printed spherical humidity metal chamber, which enabled the accurate control of experimental conditions via water-heated channels within its walls. A separately heated gas flow stream supplied an adjustable flow of dry or saturated solvent vapor. First test experiments proved the concept of the setup and respective component functionality.
Highlights
With techniques such as neutron reflectometry (NR) [11,12,13], which is used for the investigation of vertical thin film compositions, or grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) [14,15,16,17], which is used for the investigation of lateral thin film morphology and its order, two powerful methods to study thin films exist
The complete assembly of the unit can be seen in the photograph shown in Figure 9b, In cables the framework of the FlexiProb project, designed and builtaxes, a sample environwith all connected
The isment installed oninvestigation the embedded cooperation with the for motion control at presented includes four core a spherical, 3D printed the European Spallation Source (ESS), thesetup motors and encoders ofcomponents: the used stages were integrated intohumidity a projectchamthat ber; a gas flow control setup; a spectral reflectance measurement setup; and a motion conallows for the accurate control over each axis and their remote access
Summary
All technical equipment can be installed and adjusted before the experiment and initial alignment and preparation procedures can be done offinstrument This allows one to quickly and efficiently exchange complete and complex setups by exchanging the whole system (mounting system, lifting table, and breadboard with measurement equipment) in a single step and by reducing or even avoiding the need for adjustments and alignments after the setup is installed at the instrument. It is crucial for the sample environment to provide stable control over temperature and humidity because various soft matter systems are highly sensitive to these parameters [25,26,27,28,29]. The full testing of the setup, including the off-instrument alignment and preparation procedures, are in place and will be verified as soon as the ESS instruments become operational
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