Fig. 1: Microfluidic instrument enables multimodal characterization.

a Schematic of the instrument showing the microfluidic flow and mixing stage positioned with respect to the X-ray (electron) beam and CCD area detector containing a sample scattering pattern partially occluded by a protective beamstop. On the left, microfluidic lines (two in and one out) mix in the cell at the tip of the instrument. The metal fins to the left, top, and bottom enable mechanical mounting. Inset is the molecular structure of F127 with the unique methyl group of PPO indicated by the red arrow. b Cut away of the instrument tip showing the double silicon nitride membrane cell that enables liquid samples to flow through a 0.5-µm thick channel (determined by lithographically patterned spacers) vertically, while X-rays or electrons penetrate the channel horizontally. c Dry TEM images of F127 micelles acquired by allowing a ~0.1 wt. % aqueous solution to dry on a silicon nitride membrane. d TEM images of aqueous F127 micelles measured in solution under flow. Both image scale bars are 100 nm. e Cross-sectional profiles from the TEM-imaged micelles. Signal to noise is enhanced by averaging 180 radial profiles. f Optical constants Delta and Beta as a function of energy for PPO, PEO and water. g X-ray scattering contrast functions (\({|\Delta n|}^{2}\)) between each of the components PPO, PEO, and H₂O, required to determine chemical composition of the nanostructure components.