PLEIADES beamline
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATION
A multi purpose source chamber at
the PLEIADES beamline at SOLEIL for
spectroscopic studies of isolated species:
Cold molecules, clusters, and nanoparticles
A. Lindblad, J. Söderström, C. Nicolas,
E. Robert, and C. Miron*
Review of Scientific Instruments 84 (2013),
113105
* Synchrotron SOLEIL, l’Orme des Merisiers,
St Aubin BP48, 91192 Gif sur Yvette Cedex,
France
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
➊
Nanoparticle and cluster beam configurations, with details of the aerodynamic lens, the nozzle and the doping stage.
➋
First XPS spectra obtained at PLEIADES for: a) Si 2p photoelectrons of 214 nm SiO
2
nanoparticles and b) Ar 2p
3/2
photoelectrons of mixed Ar/Xe clusters, with an average size of 10
4
atoms.
REFERENCES
[1] E. Antonsson et al. Chem. Phys. Lett.
559 (2013), 1
[2] Springer Series Chemical Physics Vol. 52,
edited by H. Haberland 1994
[3] J. T. Jayne et al. Aerosol Sci. Technol.
33 (2000), 49
[4] R. Karnbach et al. Rev. Sci. Instrum.
64 (1993), 2838
An atmospheric nanoparticle flow is obtained
by spraying a liquid solution (nanoparticles
in suspension), with an atomizer source. After
passing through a diffusion dryer, the aerosol
is directed to the lens system made with a
calibrated limiting orifice (usually 200 µm),
then a relaxation chamber (the tube holder)
and ends with the aerodynamic lens itself,
based on a design published by Jayne et al
[3]. (Fig.
➊
). The nanoparticle beam (width
< 280µm), focused with the aerodynamic
lens, crosses the interaction region where
the sample is continuously renewed. The
effects of charging, common with deposited
nanoparticles, is absent in this case.
The beam is sufficiently dense to allow
the use of a conventional, hemispherical
electron analyzer.
In this configuration, the system allows
generation of clusters from gases and
liquids (using an oven). Mixed clusters
can also be created when a doping stage
is inserted just after the nozzle (Fig.
➊
).
Clustering is achieved via adiabatic
expansion of the gas through a converging-
diverging nozzle [4] (with throat diameter
100 µm), which can be cooled to liquid
nitrogen temperature. Peltier elements
assure stable control of the desired
temperature.
Figure
➋
shows the first core level
photoelectron spectra obtained at PLEIADES
on SiO
2
nanoparticles and on argon/xenon
mixed clusters. Two people can easily achieve
the switch between the configurations in
less than one day. Almost one third of the
projects accepted by the program committee
require now the use of the MPSC. Mixed
atomic clusters, molecular clusters, diverse
nanoparticles, soot particles and biomolecules
have already been studied with this source.
Two articles linked to it are published and
more than five are in preparation. The MPSC
was also used to validate a new technique
to obtain an online characterisation of the
nanoparticle beam focussing, involving a high
repetition rate ablation laser. This technique
has just been patented.
Nanoparticles configuration
Clusters configuration
A successful bet
125
SOLEIL
HIGHLIGHTS
2013
