X-ray fluorescence microscopy of light elements in cells: self-absorption correction by integration of compositional and morphological measurements

We present here a new methodology for quantitative mapping of light elements in cells, based on combination of compositional and morphological information, derived respectively by X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XRFM), Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM). Since XRFM of light elements (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sodium and magnesium), are strongly influenced by self-absorption, we developed an algorithm to correct for this effect, using the morphological and structural information provided by AFM and STXM. Finally, the corrected distributions have been obtained, thus allowing quantitative mapping.