Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) is a small-angle scattering technique that can determine nanoparticle size distributions.

SAXS can also resolve the size and shape of macromolecules, determine pore sizes, characteristic distances of partially ordered materials, and much more. The advantage of SAXS over crystallography is that a crystalline sample is not needed. 

Elastic scattering of x-rays travelling through a material are recorded at small angles - typically 0.1-10°. Depending on the angular range in which a clear scattering signal can be recorded, SAXS is capable of delivering structural information of dimensions between 1 and 100 nm, and of repeat distances in partially ordered systems of up to 150 nm.

Application sectors

Healthy ageing
Energy
Advanced materials
Environment & climate science
Chemistry
Cybersecurity

beamlines at the swiss light source

cSAXS