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Chemistry and Biochemistry Labs
XRD Facility

Procedures

The XRD lab is both a user facility and a service facility. The appropriate trainings must be completed by users who wish to use XRD equipment independently.

Sample Forms:

SC-XRD Policies and Procedures
Additional Training Modules

Use of the SC-XRD is free of charge for individuals and groups affiliated with BYU.

To submit a sample to the XRD facility for employees to analyze:

  1. Print and fill out one of these forms:
    1. For a Small Molecule SC-XRD Submission
    2. For a Macromolecular SC-XRD Experiment Record Sample Submission Form
  2. Place your sample and the printed, completed form in the sample submission box in the southeast corner of C330 BNSN.
  3. Be sure your sample fits one of the sample sizes listed below. Sample holders are available at the XRD Facility.
  4. Write your name and your lab's Principle Investigator's initials on the SC-XRD queue board.

Contact XRD Facility Manager Dr. Stacey Smith for more information, trainings, assistance in running an experiment, or help submitting a sample for analysis.

Trainings

  • SC-SXRD Temperature Variable Experiments

    • This training is required to independently use the SC-XRD to perform low temperature experiments. Topics covered include sample preparation/mounting, operating the instrument, writing data collection programs, and processing the data using the Bruker Apex II software.

Sample Specifications

A "single" crystal is a solid in which the crystal lattice is continuous and unbroken (containing no grain boundaries) throughout the entire sample. Single crystals for SC-XRD experiments typically have dimensions between 20-500µm, though crystals with dimensions as small as 10µm have been successfully characterized, and crystals larger than a few hundred µm can be cut into more suitably sized pieces.

Good single crystals typically have well-defined faces and are transparent (not cloudy, cracked, or otherwise opaque). They also often rotate plane polarized light. If the plane of polarization is changed continuously as shown in the video, the crystals grow bright then dark or even change colors. To evaluate crystal quality, a microscope with a polarizing lense is available in C330A BNSN.

The following links are useful resources for growing single crystals:

Please contact XRD Facility Manager Dr. Stacey Smith if you need training. The following training modules are available:

  • X-Ray Safety
    • This training is required to obtain access to the facility and the instruments. Complete the online training module and answer all questions of the follow-up quiz correctly to gain access.
  • Crystallite Size Analysis
    • Topics include a discussion of the theory/equations involved, data collection requirements, basic profile-fitting techniques using HighScore Plus, determining instrumental broadening parameters, making/using a template, and using a Williamson-Hall plot.

  • Rietveld Refinement & Quantitative Analysis of Mixtures

    • Topics include a discussion of the theory/equations involved, data collection requirements, determining instrumental broadening parameters, using .cif files, crystal structure nomenclature, and basic fitting techniques using HighScore Plus.
  • Miscellaneous Topics
    • Other, specialized topics and questions can be addressed via one-on-one training.