Studying the local nanostructure of hierarchical biological and bio-inspired materials by position resolved small-angle (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) is a key technique in the Department of Biomaterials. To this end, we have developed a scientific instrument at the microfocus (µ-Spot) beamline of the synchrotron radiation source BESSY II, with the general goal to realize a scanning device for the combination of simultaneous SAXS, WAXS and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). This unique combination of methods allows the mapping of structural parameters from the nanometre level as well as chemical composition with a spatial resolution of a few micrometers. Our ultimate goal is to make the step from microbeam scanning to a real imaging technique.

A short overview on the beamline can be downloaded here.