Crystallography

The School has excellent facilities and capabilities in both Single Crystal X-ray diffraction and Power X-ray Diffraction (PXRD)

We Can Answer Your Questions

“How can I grow crystals of this?”

“I’ve got this crystal, what is it?"

 

For more information contact:

 SoC-Facilities@ei.ed.ac.uk 

Crystallography

Structural characterisation by single crystal X-ray diffraction is a major analytical and research tool in chemistry providing both definitive sample identification and detailed structural analysis.

Why choose the University of Edinburgh School of Chemistry as a partner for your crystallography needs?

We offer a complete single crystal diffraction service to our industrial partners, through the provision of dedicated analysis, interpretation and consultancy services.

SERVICES AVAILABLE

  • We handle many types of small molecule samples, ranging from small organic molecules, through transition metal complexes to lanthanide and actinide clusters
  • Ideal for detailed study of organic or organometallic complexes.
  • Provides definitive chemical identity, bond dimensions, molecular conformation and crystal packing analysis.
  • Over 15 years experience in the field

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

  • Rigaku Oxford Diffraction SuperNova diffractometer. Sample temperature range 80 to 500 K
  • Bruker D8 Venture offering temperatures to 28K

PXRD is a rapid, non-destructive technique which can help you understand your crystalline materials, their structure, stability and how these properties might change on varying temperature. 

PXRD has been used for projects in a range of scientific disciplines: such as low temperature phase transitions in magnetic materials, materials with negative thermal expansion, cement minerals with variable hydration states, and phase change materials used for energy storage.


SERVICES AVAILABLE

  • Phase identification
  • Monitoring the effect of changing temperature in situ in the material studied
  • Polymorphism studies
  • Demonstrating a sample is amorphous
Scientist at Diffractometer

EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

  • Bruker D8 X-ray Benchtop Powder Diffractometer set up in transmission geometry - useful for measuring low absorbing materials, such as organic molecules and pharmaceuticals.
  • Rigaku Smartlab powder X-ray diffractometer with HyPix3000 advanced detector technology - high resolution powder X-ray diffraction instrument which is optimised for variable temperature studies.The diffractometer is very adaptable and we have the following attachments.
  • High temperature furnace for collection of PXRD data while heating the sample, the temperature can be adjusted from room temperature to 1500°C.
  • Low temperature PheniX (Oxford Cryosystems) for collection of PXRD data while cooling the sample. The PheniX can cool the sample from room temperature to 12 K (-261.15 °C).
  • X-ray DSC attachment which simultaneously heats the sample (25-350 °C), measures a DSC curve and collects PXRD patterns. This attachment also serves as a humidity chamber so the humid environment of the sample can be varied during data collection. We are the only facility in the UK with this attachment and capability.

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