AI and the World's Hard Problems · Physics · arXiv · 2026-10-26
Sub-monolayer tracking of molecular states at buried interfaces
Emerging technologies depend on molecular states at buried interfaces, which are hard to resolve quantitatively, and resonant scattering lacks accurate interpretive models. The authors used a machine-learning-optimized optical model to analyze polarized resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSoXS) from molecular thin films. This gives quantitative depth profiles of molecular orientation, chemical identity, and packing at sub-monolayer resolution. The analysis revealed a gradient in orientation and packing rising from the interface, which the authors interpret as competing surface and bulk growth dynamics.