title: Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy of polymers and bipolymer interfaces.
abstract: The status of soft X-ray spectromicroscopy (near edge X-ray absorption, or NEXAFS, microscopy) is summarized, with particular emphasis on recent collaborative studies carried out by the author's group at the scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and the photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM) instruments at the Advanced Light Source. Results described include: characterization of phase segregation and filler particles in polyurethanes; effects of confinement on polymer self-organization; characterization of chemically structured polyurea capsule walls; and preferential interactions of proteins with chemically heterogeneous polymer surfaces. The latter is part of a systematic study of the biocompatibility of polymers used in blood contact applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. aph@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hitchcock
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004583:Electrons; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001704:Biopolymers; D012709:Serum Albumin