X-ray diffraction from single crystals and powders also in controlled atmosphere

The laboratory for the X-Ray Powder Diffraction analisys is equipped with a diffractometer system PW3040/60 X'Pert PRO MPD from PANalytical. The source is the high power ceramic tube PW3373/10 LFF with Cu anode. The X'celerator detector, that implements the latest RTMS (Real Time Multiple Strip) X-ray detection technology, allows data collection at rates about 100 times faster than conventional single-point counters.The instrument is outfitted with a set of slits for incident and diffracted beams that balance the needs of resolution, intensity of the peaks and minimization of the background. Thanks to the Pre-aligned Fast Interchangeable X-ray modules (PreFIX), X'Pert PRO MPD system can be easily swiched in few minutes, without the need for re-alignment of the modules, between a Bragg-Brentano parafocusing setup and a Debye-Scherrer geometry. In both configurations the sample can spin in order to minimize crystallites preferred orientations. Moreover in the Debye-Scherrer geometry the powder samples are measured in tiny glass capillaries, useful for air-sensitive samples. The instrument is suited for identification of unknown phases, quantitative analysis and refinement of crystal structures.
The instrument is currently outfitted with a set of beam and detector slits that balance the needs of resolution and intensity for typical runs. The slits that are in use are selected for somewhat better resolution than one would find on other instruments.

X'Pert PRO MPD configured in Bragg-Brentano geometry with spinning sample holder