Multiplexed orientation and structure analysis by imaging near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (MOSAIX) for combinatorial surface science.

Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, as a technique, offers detailed information about the bonding environment of molecules at a surface. However, because it is a synchrotron based method, beam-time is limited and users must typically prioritize and narrowly define the scopes of experiments. In this study, we demonstrate a novel method that opens up the possibility of the use of large area NEXAFS imaging to pursue combinatorial studies. To explore the capabilities of the NIST full field NEXAFS microscope available at the National Synchrotron Light Source as a high throughput imaging instrument, we collected NEXAFS images from a sample array consisting of 144 different elements with a periodic sequence of different surface modifications. NEXAFS images collected from this model system illustrate how hyperspectral NEXAFS data can be used for parallel analysis of large numbers of samples either directly from the overall image or by extracting spectra from regions of interest.