NIST Standard Reference Material 3600: Absolute Intensity Calibration Standard for Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

Andrew J Allen; Fan Zhang; R Joseph Kline; William F Guthrie; Jan Ilavsky

doi:10.1107/S1600576717001972

NIST Standard Reference Material 3600: Absolute Intensity Calibration Standard for Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

J Appl Crystallogr. 2017 Mar 7;50(Pt 2):462-474. doi: 10.1107/S1600576717001972. eCollection 2017 Apr 1.

Authors

Andrew J Allen¹, Fan Zhang¹, R Joseph Kline², William F Guthrie³, Jan Ilavsky⁴

Affiliations

¹ Materials Measurement Science Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology , 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
² Materials Science and Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology , 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
³ Statistical Engineering Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology , 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
⁴ X-ray Science Division, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory , 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA.

Abstract

The certification of a new standard reference material for small-angle scattering [NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3600: Absolute Intensity Calibration Standard for Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS)], based on glassy carbon, is presented. Creation of this SRM relies on the intrinsic primary calibration capabilities of the ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering technique. This article describes how the intensity calibration has been achieved and validated in the certified Q range, Q = 0.008-0.25 Å^-1, together with the purpose, use and availability of the SRM. The intensity calibration afforded by this robust and stable SRM should be applicable universally to all SAXS instruments that employ a transmission measurement geometry, working with a wide range of X-ray energies or wavelengths. The validation of the SRM SAXS intensity calibration using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is discussed, together with the prospects for including SANS in a future renewal certification.

Keywords: absolute scattering intensity calibration; glassy carbon; small-angle X-ray scattering; standard reference materials.