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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:

P-XRD Policies and Procedures
SC-XRD Policies and Procedures
Additional Training Modules

Use of the P-XRD is free of charge for individuals and groups affiliated with BYU. To run experiments autonomously, users must complete the requisite trainings. Contact XRD Facility Manager Dr. Stacey Smith for more information, trainings, assistance in running an experiment, or help submitting a sample for analysis.

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

  1. Print and fill out this form.

    1. Place your sample and the printed, completed form in the sample submission box in the center of the south wall of C330 BNSN.
    2. Be sure your sample fits one of the sample sizes listed below. Sample holders are available at the XRD Facility.
    3. Write your name and your lab's Principle Investigator's initials on the P-XRD queue board.

Trainings

  • Basic P-XRD
    • This training is required to obtain access to the XRD facility and the P-XRD instrument. Topics include sample preparation, instrument setup, running the Data Collector software, writing data collection programs for the 15-position sample changer, and performing basic data processing with the HighScore Plus software and ICDD database.

  • P-XRD Temperature Variable Experiments

    • This training is required to independently use the high temperature stage for the P-XRD instrument. Topics covered include mounting the stage, sample preparation/mounting, operating the stage, writing data collection programs, and processing the data using HighScore Plus.

  • P-XRD Capillary Experiments

    • This training is required to independently use the capillary stage for the P-XRD. Topics covered include mounting the stage, sample preparation/mounting, operating the stage, writing data collection programs, and processing the data using HighScore Plus.

Sample Specification Sizes

Materials or particles consisting of more than one crystal or distinct crystal lattice are ‘polycrystalline’ materials. Polycrystalline samples can range from powders and nanoparticles to thin films and machined parts. In essence, if it is solid, crystalline, and can be made to have or form a relatively flat surface, the P-XRD can be used to investigate its atomic structure.

A variety of sample holders are available at the facility. The P-XRD accommodates several sample volumes and forms:

P-XRD Sample Holders
 Type of HolderCompositionHolding Area DimensionsSample Volume Required
Sample Form
1Standard holder
Steel2mm depth, 27mm diameter1145 mm3Powder
2Standard + 1.0mm insertSteel + Al1mm depth, 25mm diameter491 mm3Powder
3Standard + 0.5mm insertSteel + Al0.5mm depth, 25mm diameter245 mm3Powder
4Zero Background holderSi0.1mm depth, 15mm diameter18 mm3Powder, Solids
5Adjustable height holderAl0-4mm height, 41mm diameterVariableSolids
6Tension holderAl
0-7mm height, 41mm diameterVariableSolids
7
Flat slideGlass
20mm x 20mm x 0.2mm depth80 mm3Powder

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.