Overview
 | The X-ray Facility at the University of California, Santa Cruz was commissioned in November, 2006. The laboratory houses a Bruker APEX-II CCD instrument operating on Mo-Kalpha radiation. Data are routinely collected at cryogenic temperatures, with the option of varying the temperature for thermally sensitive samples or for thermal transition studies. Primarily the laboratory operates for small molecule, single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. We intend to purchase a dedicated X-ray powder diffraction instrument for both powder and thin-film studies. This purchase would greatly increase the utility of the laboratory and extend our usefulness to other departments including Geology, Engineering and Materials Science. |
Services
The
primary function of the chemical crystallography laboratory is to
provide X-ray diffraction studies of small molecules. The final
result is the chemical structure of the molecule, as shown to the
right. One of the key functions towards this primary function is
providing advice to researchers regarding crystal growth techniques.
For reliable and accurate data to be collected good quality,
single crystals are required first. Optical examination of
potential crystals is also one of the functions performed. Data collection is currently performed only by Dr. Oliver. However, an instruction course on X-ray Crystallography is planned, with the goal that qualified graduate student users would be able to perform their own analyses. Several databases are also archived within the X-ray Lab, in particular the Cambridge Crystal Structure Database (CSD) and the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database. To utilize these databases please contact Dr. Oliver. |  |