Exploring several contrasts in situ/operando at the nanoscale, such as X-ray fluorescence, diffraction, luminescence, and absorption, using synchrotron light on microfluidic systems, has the potential to reveal new properties and functionalities of materials in diverse areas, such as green energy, photonics, and nanomedicine.
Researchers created and characterized a multifunctional polyester/glass-sealed microfluidic device that is well-suited for analytical X-ray techniques. The device comprises smooth microchannels patterned on glass, into which three gold electrodes are deposited to serve in situ electrochemistry analysis or standard electrical measurements.
Overall, the synchrotron light device has demonstrated exceptional chemical resistance to organic solvents and remarkable efficiency in the presence of biological samples (proteins). The microfluidic device has the potential to be used in standard laboratory experiments as well as in situ and in vivo analytical experiments using a broad electromagnetic window ranging from infrared to X-rays, which could serve experiments in a variety of scientific fields.
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