X-ray powder diffractometer

• Subject Area: Chemical Solid State and Surface Research
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 584872515

This proposal requests funding for the upgrade of an existing powder X-ray diffractometer through the replacement of the existing position-sensitive detector with a high-sensitivity microstrip detector system. The current powder X-ray diffractometer is a modular instrument that supports both transmission and reflection geometries. This versatility allows the investigation of air-sensitive compounds in sealed glass capillaries, while requiring only small sample quantities. The planned upgrade will increase sensitivity and data quality, enabling faster data acquisition with a significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio. The upgraded system will support a broad range of research topics in chemistry and solid-state physics, including: •Quantitative assessment of phase composition and crystallinity (including crystallite size, stress and strain). •Phase transition studies under variable-temperature conditions. •Structure determination and Rietveld refinement of crystalline materials. •Investigation of solid solutions and doped materials, including determination of solubility limits through lattice parameter (Vegard) analysis. Specific research applications include the characterization of functional and energy-relevant materials, such as ion conductors, catalysts, luminescent, nano-scale and building materials. This upgrade will enable the continued use of existing hardware components, including the X-ray sources, high-voltage generator, safety housing and dedicated extensions for high and temperature, offering a cost-effective solution for maintaining a key analytical instrument at a state-of-the-art performance level. The diffractometer is a shared facility used by multiple research groups within the Department of Chemistry&Biology and Physics and is operated almost continuously, including overnight and weekend measurements. The upgrade will ensure continued availability of high performance powder X-ray diffractometer for research. Overall, the planned modernization represents a sustainable and cost-effective investment in the long term analytical infrastructure of the department, strengthening internal research capabilities and reducing dependence on external facilities for routine and advanced diffraction measurements.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Röntgenpulverdiffraktometer (Erneuerung)
• Instrumentation Group: 4011 Pulverdiffraktometer
• Applicant Institution: Universität Siegen
• Leader: Professor Dr. Jörn Schmedt auf der Günne