B2 Specifications 02 xxxx Specifications.docx

Requirements and Specifications Liquid Cell Holder for Resonant Soft X-ray Scattering Beamline

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), owns and maintains an extensive suite of synchrotron x-ray scattering tools for the characterization of materials with spatial, chemical, and orientational resolution. One such tool is the Resonant Soft X-Ray Scattering Instrument (RSoXS), which can simultaneously analyze the structure and chemistry of materials at scales from atomic to micrometer. However, an inherent limitation of these instruments is that the chamber where the specimen is located, must be kept under ultrahigh vacuum conditions to achieve the required spatial resolution.

These conditions require that the specimen be completely dehydrated. However, in many cases the analyst would prefer to observe the specimen in a liquid environment. For the past decade, specialized holders have been developed, and commercialized for electron microscopy applications that consist of an isolated microfluidic environment within the specimen chamber of the microscope. Here the specimen can be directly observed within a liquid solution without sacrificing spatial resolution. Upcoming experiments will require this type of holder for use on the NIST Spectroscopy Soft and Tender (SST)-1 RSoXS instrument.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The purpose of this procurement is to purchase a liquid cell transmission holder compatible with the SST-1 RSoXS station. This holder will enable morphological and structural measurements of polymeric nanomaterials suspended in common solvents (which shall include, as representative examples, water, ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and toluene), and may at the Government’s option allow the electrochemical biasing of such samples.

III. SPECIFICATIONS

The contractor shall provide one (1) liquid cell transmission holder compatible with the SST-1 RSoXS station that meets the following minimum requirements:

· Sample holder shall be mechanically compatible with a ThermoFisher/FEI TEM sample stage feedthrough.

· Sample holder shall be designed to accept a microfluidic cell at the specimen end of the rod, such cell consisting of two replaceable opposing silicon nitride or similar windows supported on silicon substrates.

· Sample holder shall, when properly assembled, permit no escape of liquid under a vacuum level of 1e-8 mBar.

· Sample holder shall, as supplied, have a minimum field of view allowing transmission of electrons or soft x-rays of a square with at least 50 micrometers in each dimension. Larger fields of view, including circular or rectangular shapes larger in one or more dimensions than the minimum, are preferable to the Government.

· Sample holder shall allow for future Government replacement of the supplied windows with those of different sizes and layouts as needed.

· Sample holder shall be compatible with common solvents, which shall include as representative examples water, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and ethanol.

· Sample holder shall provide microfluidic channels and feedthroughs necessary to allow continuous flow of solution through the window from outside the vacuum envelope, and shall include a syringe or other suitable pump capable of producing such flow.

· Sample holder shall provide electrical feedthroughs, which will allow for electrical bias to be applied to the analytical volume via an external controller and custom replaceable elements (controller and elements to be supplied separately and not included in this requirement).

System Requirements:

· The transmission holder shall consist of a TEM specimen rod that is mechanically designed to be compatible with a ThermoFisher/FEI TEM sample stage feedthrough. The rod shall be designed to accept the components of the microfluidic cell at the specimen end of the rod, consisting of two replacable opposing silicon nitride or similar windows supported on silicon substrates. When properly assembled, the cell shall permit no escape of liquid under the 1 e -8 mBar vacuum conditions pertaining inside the instrument vacuum system.

· The holder, as supplied, shall allow for a minimum open field of view of a square 50 microns by 50 microns with an overall device design allowing transmission of electrons or soft x-rays consistent with the intended application in a TEM. Larger open fields of view, including rectangular and circular apertures that meet or exceed the minimum edge dimensions given above, are preferable to the Government. Such fields of view might be provided, for example, by replacing some components of the cell such as the silicon nitride window assembly with non-standard components that might be provided by the manufacturer, a third-party vendor, or the Government itself. The vendor shall describe the capacity for such replacement and maximum window dimensions imposed by the non-replaceable components of the cell.

· The holder shall allow for future Government replacement of the supplied windows with those of different sizes and layouts as needed.

· The holder shall be compatible with common solvents, which shall include as representative examples water, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and ethanol.

· The holder shall provide microfluidic channels and feedthroughs necessary to allow continuous flow of solution through the window from outside the vacuum envelope, and shall include a syringe or other suitable pump capable of producing such flow.

· The holder shall provide electrical feedthroughs, which will allow for electrical bias to be applied to the analytical volume via an external controller and custom replaceable elements (controller and elements to be supplied separately and not included in this requirement).

· The Government would like an option for a leak checking station (Option I), to consist of a high-vacuum dry pumping station with a gauge, vent valve, and flange compatible with the holder, and visual access to the cell to allow testing of the assembled cell for leaks prior to insertion into the instrument.

Performance Standards:

The performance testing and inspection by the TPOC of the liquid cell holder shall include verifying the holder can be pumped to 1x10-8 mbar, with no visible liquid leaking. Testing shall also consist of insertion into the instrument with no issues reported by the feedthrough software or mechanical interlocks.

Warranty:

The Contractor shall provide, at minimum, a one (1) year warranty for the holder. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor, and shipping. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery and acceptance.

Optional Items To Be Exercised at Time of Award:

Optional Item I: Leak Check Station

All goods shall be delivered to the NIST suite of beamlines at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York. Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the execution of Federal Holidays.

VI. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Not applicable.

VII. DELIVERABLES

Optional Leak Checking Station

VIII. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

The TPOC will visually inspect equipment upon delivery. TPOC or designated personnel will test the holder to verify that performance specifications are met. The government requires one month after delivery for acceptance testing.

The NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) or authorized representative shall receive and inspect the liquid cell holder, and verify compatibility with the beamline, and performance of the microfluidic cell. If there are issues regarding compliance, the Vendor will be advised of such issues and allowed the opportunity to rework, repair, or replace the item, at their expense, so that it will comply.

The TPOC or designated personnel will visually inspect the shipped system. Any indications of shipping damage such as visible damage will be noted and relayed to Vendor.

IX. PAYMENT

The Contractor shall invoice in one lump sum after all required items have been accepted by the Government. Partial payments are not authorized. Advanced payments are not authorized.