X-MOTION · Exploring nanoscale motion and molecular alignment using ultrafast coherent diffraction
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2011-01-01 → 2014-12-31
- EU contribution
- €270,000
- Participants
- 3
- Scheme
- MC-IRSES
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Exploring nanoscale motion and molecular alignment using ultrafast coherent diffraction
X-motion project focuses on developing a way to improve X-ray imaging of single nanoparticles. When a single particle is exposed to multiple X-ray pulses, an image can be built by means of diffraction. However, without knowing the orientation of a particle beforehand, this kind of imaging becomes a major challenge. The 'Exploring nanoscale motion and molecular alignment using ultrafast coherent diffraction' (X-MOTION) project has overcome some aspects of this challenge through the use of azobenzene polymers, new 3D imaging techniques using either laser based coherent X-ray source of large scale free electrons laser (Stanford, USA and Hamburg, Germany). Azobenzene was chosen because its orientation can be controlled using ultraviolet light, enabling it to maintain the alignment of particles. We have performed extensive analysis of the azobenzene molecule to determine whether or not it is suitable for driving nanoscale motion. The isomerisation (change in alignment) of azobenzene–nanoparticle complexes have shown a motion of few % of the attached gold nanoparticle. We have also studied the motion of diiodobenzonitrile, a simple molecule that is similar in some ways to azobenzene. The team showed that it was possible to measure the diffraction, alignment and structure of the molecule. X-MOTION has pioneered a new approach that will provide unparalleled information about the structure and properties of nanoparticles. The technique is expected to have wide-ranging applications. An outcome of this research is the development of a new nanoscale imaging technique. Indeed a contract with a SME to develop a "nanoscope", a lensless microscope capable of nanometer scale resolution has been initiated thanks to the expertise acquirer during the X-motion project.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Single particle imaging requires that identical objects would be successively exposed to powerful coherent X-ray pulses, and diffraction `snapshots' collected at unknown object orientations. However determining the orientations of the individual low-signal diffraction patterns and hence reconstructing the diffraction volume require much more signal than available. To circumvent the difficulty, we propose in X-Motion to orient a single molecule or nanoparticle to improve the diffracted signal and to achieve a 3-D reconstruction. Azobenzene derived polymers (AZOs) motion could be used to align the system. Practically, the isomerization of an azobenzene chromophore induces a large molecular length change that is well suited to power and actuate nanoscale or molecular motions. Our project proposes to use AZOs properties to manipulate and align other systems like single nanorods or isolated molecules (proteins for example). We will use ultrafast coherent X-ray diffraction in a pump-probe scheme to follow in real time the isomerization induced alignment. X-Motion network will gather experimentalists and theoreticians from France, Germany, and the United States, all interested in imaging individual particles and molecules using state of the art soft and hard X-ray coherent sources. The partners have competency in ultrafast coherent imaging, nanoscale fabrication, chemistry (polymers, femtochemistry, aerosols), X-ray spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. This synergy between these domains is essential to address the issue of single particle alignment and imaging. X-Motion will involve FLASH soft X-ray free electron laser facility in Hamburg (Germany), LCLS at Stanford (USA), 3rd generation ALS synchrotron at Berkeley (USA) and table-top ultrafast laser harmonic in CEA Saclay near Paris (France). This will give access to a wide range of photon energies and pulse duration.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
Links
- View on CORDIS
- http://iramis.cea.fr/LIDyL/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20150417231924/http://iramis.cea.fr/LIDyL/
Data: CORDIS, © European Union