Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)

N8 HORIZON

Dedicated Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) with compact footprint for high-end research and multi-user facilities

To better probe the Nano-world

SAXS - WAXS - GISAXS

SCATEX
scatter-free pinholes
The composition and design of these unique pinholes produce the cleanest, high intensity x-ray beam for probing to the smallest angles with virtually no background.
90°
vertical instrument orientation
This innovative rotation of the beam path through 90° results in a small lab footprint and horizontal sample mounting so gravity works for you rather than against you!
150 cm²
large 2D active area with the VÅNTEC-500
The large full field of view collects the whole scattering signal, isotropic or anisotropic, in a single shot.
N8 HORIZON showing easy-access sample chamber

Our N8 HORIZON Small and Wide Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS - WAXS) system was developed in accordance with the principles of our DAVINCI design: Take the best analytical method and most advanced technologies and combine them with ultimate ease-of-use and safety to offer a perfect solution for all applications. Mirror-conditioned circular pinhole collimation, a versatile, ergonomic sample chamber and a large 2-D detector are the key components that put you in the best starting position for successfully tackling any type of SAXS experiment. Our latest developments in optics technology allowed us to significantly shorten the traditionally long primary beam path and paved the way for our unique vertical instrument design with horizontal sample mounting.
 

Key Features

N8 HORIZON Features

Patented vertical beampath

The most prominent characteristic of our N8 HORIZON – compared to traditional SAXS systems – is the innovative vertical instrument setup. This simple rotation offers two major benefits: Firstly, no other system with comparable performance
has such a small footprint in valuable lab space. Secondly, gravity is working for you. Samples are easily mounted horizontally with no need for fixing aids. During measurement, samples will never flow, sink or fall out of the X-ray beam.

N8 HORIZON Features

IµS micro-focus source

This unique X-ray source supplies a very stable and intense spot-focus X-ray beam without the need for water cooling. Thanks to its robust design, the source comes with a 3-year warranty. The IµS includes integrated MONTEL, state-of-the-art 2-D beam-shaping optics, for highest intensity on the sample.  This side-by-side multilayer mirror design captures a large solid-angle of x-ray from the source and efficiently redirects in a highly parallel and monochromatic beam.

N8 HORIZON Features

VÅNTEC-500 2D detector

The VÅNTEC-500 2-D detector with MikrogapTM technology satisfies all of the ideal requirements of a dedicated SAXS system. First, no need for gas, water, or routine maintenance and no concerns for intense radiation or movement damage results in detector that is robust and very easy to use. A large active area (14 x 14 cm2) to enable huge angular coverage with full field of view. Incredibly low background and high maximum count rate for fantastic dynamic range and sensitivity to weakly scattering samples. Excellent spatial resolution to resolve closely spaced scattering features. No other detector can offer these combination of ideal features for these applications.  

Key Applications

N8 HORIZON Applications

Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS)

Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) is a phenomenon caused by particles embedded in a matrix of different electron density. If the particle size ranges from 1 nm to 200 nm, the scattering angle lies within the range of 0° to 5°, depending on the X-ray wavelength used. The smaller the particles are, the wider are the scattering angles.  

Any arrangement of particles in any medium shows a difference in electron density, which results in a specific pattern when executing a SAXS experiment. Along with the size of the particles, SAXS can also determine their shape, their distance apart and size distribution from the 2-D pattern. Particles can be dissolved macromolecules, precipitations in metals, mineral particles in biological tissues, and surfactant micelles.

N8 HORIZON Applications

Grazing-Incidence SAXS (GI-SAXS)

To probe the surface and subsurface structural details, samples are measured in grazing incidence geometry. The incident angles are close to the so-called critical angle of total reflection and typically lie between 0.1 and 0.7 degrees. In a Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS) experiment, the diffusely scattered intensity is collected in the non-coplanar direction by means of a 2-D detector.

A dedicated GI-SAXS stage with motorized tilt is used to align the sample in the beam.

N8 HORIZON Applications

Wide-Angle X-Ray Scattering (WAXS)

In contrast to SAXS, Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) examines structures on the Angstrom level, which are typically interplanar distances of crystalline structures. Often WAXS is used to analyze Bragg the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern which can help determine crystalline structure, degree of crystallinity, crystallite size, and phase composition (Phase ID). WAXS data is typically collected at the same time (simultaneously) as SAXS data with a 2nd detector positioned much closer to the sample.  

N8 HORIZON Specifications

Feature

Specification

Benefit

Exterior dimensions

(h x w x d)

202 x 75 x 160 cm

79.5 x 29.5 x 63.0 inches

Compact design with no need for a separate chiller keeps lab footprint very small

IµS micro-focus source

Air-cooled, high intensity, micro-focus X-Ray source

Low power usage (30W)

3 year standard warranty

No need for water chiller

High power density leads to increased intensity

Integrated Montel mirrors for ideal beam conditioning

SCATEX pinholes

Ideal circular beam shape with negligible parasitic background scatter.

No parasitic aperture edge scattering

Higher resolution / Higher flux

More compact collimation beampath allows vertical beampath

Sample Chamber

Large sample chamber, with motorized  XY-stage for sample positioning, mapping and accommodation of versatile standard stages

X: up to 80 mm travel; Y: up to 115 mm travel

Motorized reference sample wheel

Operation in vacuum for reduced air-scatter

Optional motorized GI-SAXS and non-ambient stages available

VÅNTEC-500 2D detector

Large active area, low background, high sensitivity 2D detector

Large active area (> 150 cm²) for full frame of view SAXS scattering images

Very low background for highest sensitivity

Excellent spatial resolution (68 micron pixel size)

Maintenance-free (no water/air required or sensitivity to strong primary beam or detector movement under bias)

Service & Support