Powder Diffractometer

• Subject Area: Molecular Chemistry
• Term: Funded in 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 565658926

The application concerns the purchase of a new powder diffractometer to replace two defective devices in the X-ray diffraction service center at Saarland University. Both of the devices to be replaced developed defects within a short period of time, the repair of which would not only involve disproportionately high costs but would also appear uneconomical in the long run due to the foreseeable discontinuation of the supply of spare parts. The requested device will be integrated into Saarland University's X-ray diffraction service center, which enables the university's research groups to carry out X-ray diffraction-based investigations to answer scientific questions. The device will therefore be equipped with an automatic sample changer for the routine analysis of powdered samples, which will allow measurements on standard sample carriers and inert sample carriers. Furthermore, the use of existing temperature controlled and reaction chambers (temperature range between –185 and +1200 °C and different gas atmospheres) should be possible through simple conversion. The existing portfolio of methods is also to be expanded in order to do justice to the idea of a research-driven service center. Therefore, in addition to standard copper radiation, a simple conversion of the device to silver X-ray radiation is required in order to be able to determine pair distribution functions. These will allow to gain an extended structural insight into the materials to be measured. In addition, a semiconductor detector is required that enables effective suppression of fluorescence radiation in order to ensure high data quality, especially for samples with highly fluorescent elements (e.g. Mn, Fe, Co).

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Pulverdiffraktometer
• Instrumentation Group: 4011 Pulverdiffraktometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität des Saarlandes
• Leader: Professor Dr. Guido Kickelbick