title: A sample holder for soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquids in transmission mode.
abstract: A novel sample holder for soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquids in transmission mode based on sample cells with x-ray transparent silicon nitride membranes is introduced. The sample holder allows for a reliable preparation of ultrathin liquid films with an adjustable thickness in the nm-μm range. This enables measurements of high quality x-ray absorption spectra of liquids in transmission mode, as will be shown for the example of liquid H(2)O, aqueous solutions of 3d-transition metal ions and alcohol-water mixtures. The fine structure of the x-ray absorption spectra is not affected by the sample thickness. No effects of the silicon nitride membranes were observed in the spectra. It is shown how an inhomogeneous thickness of the sample affects the spectra and how this can be avoided.
authors: Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Schreck
authors: Gianina
authors: G
authors: Gavrila
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Weniger
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Wernet
mesh_terms: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D056928:X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008670:Metals; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D014867:Water; C032734:silicon nitride