Sample environment and experimental setup for inelastic x-ray scattering measurements of liquid hydrogen fluoride and (HF)(x)(H2O)(1-x) solutions

In order to study the dynamic structure factor of hydrogen fluoride and its water solutions, we have realized a sample container able to resist these highly reacting hydrogen-bonded liquids and suitable for near-forward x-ray scattering experiments. The design and development of each part of the apparatus together with a discussion on the choice of the materials is reported. Two cells have been built for pure HF and for (HF)(x)(H2O)(1-x) solutions based on similar schemes but developed with different materials and some structural variations. Their contribution to the total scattered intensity has been measured. An example of inelastic x-ray scattering spectra at fixed temperature (T=283 K) and momentum transfer (Q=4 nm(-1)) is reported as a function of the concentration of hydrogen fluoride [(HF)(x)(H2O)(1-x),with x=0,0.2,0.4,0.73,1]. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.