XRD1

Welcome to XRD1 @ Elettra.

X-rays are an invaluable probe of the structure of matter, and the range of problems where X-rays have proved to be decisive in unravelling a material structure is very wide. Exploiting the wide spectrum offered by a powerful multipole wiggler, the XRD1 beamline offers the possibility to structurally characterize matter at many different levels, having a broad applications in science and technology.
X-ray diffraction can provide an atomic-detail, three-dimensional structure of small and large molecules, playing a pivotal role in synthetic chemistry and offering the basis to understand the response of a molecular structure to an external influence such as the variation of pressure, temperature or humidity, electric or magnetic fields, photo-excitation, and so on.
At higher level, X-ray diffraction can characterize matter according to the spatial arrangement of the molecules in solid state, justifying macroscopic properties of materials and opening to an infinity of technological opportunities. All these impact everyone’s everyday life, spanning from pharmaceutical drugs efficacy and efficiency to energy production and storage, pollutant-capture materials and food industry.

Research Highlights

Nanoparticles – New light on growth mechanisms

Synchrotron X-Ray diffraction in solution is used to shed light on the growth mechanisms of the coprecipitation of iron oxide nanoparticles, showing an initial precipitation of iron hydroxide carbonate [Fe6(OH)12CO3] and ferrihydrite and the successive growth of ferrihydrite /via/ the re-dissolution of iron hydroxide carbonate to form a final magnetite phase.
LaGrow A P et al., Nanoscale, 2019,11, 6620-6628

Photosynthesis – The dark side structural proteome is now completed

The crystal structure of the phosphoribulokinase (PRK) – the last enzyme of the Calvin-Benson cycle – has been finally solved, completing its redox structural proteome. The PRK structure also allowed to shed light on the molecular evolution of PRKs in eukaryotes.

Gurrieri L. et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Mar 2019, 201820639

New anode materials for advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries

In operando X-Ray Diffraction measurements at XRD1 together with raman Spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques shed light on the electrochemistry of FeNb 11 O 29, a very promising anode material for advanced high-power density Lithium-ion batteries

Spada D. et al., Electrochimica Acta Volume 393, 139077 (2021)

On the penetration depth of conservation treatments on cultural heritage stone materials

This study demonstrate that a novel analytical approach based on SR-μTXRD can be successfully used to investigate the mineralogical composition and penetration depth of inorganic mineral treatment in stone matrixes with a high spatial resolution.

Possenti E. et al., Anal. Methods, Vol. 12 - 12, pp. 1587-1594 (2020)

New sensors for relative humidity

A new, flexible lightweight bilayer film is presented and structurally characterized as a promising material for humidity sensing.

Pfattner R. et al., ACS Appl. Electron. Mater., Vol. 1 - 9, pp. 1781-1791 (2019)

Molecular orientations in homojunction organic solar cells

This work highlights the importance of understanding the orientation and packing of small molecules used in organic solar cells, as the energy levels are not only defined by the molecular structure itself, but that molecular orientation plays a crucial role in the overall performance of the device.

Y. Dong et al., Nat Commun 11, 4617 (2020)

Like a pearl in its shell – Xe single atom encapsulation

A structure able to sequester a noble gases under mild conditions of room temperature and low pressure is reported. The use of such structures let imagine widespread applications.

Pizzi A. et al., Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, Vol. 58 - 41, pp. 14472-14476 (2019)

Heterochirality and Halogenation Control Phe-Phe Hierarchical Assembly

A series of Phe-Phe analogs were studied for self-assembly into nanotubes to offer new ways to design their chemical structure through a simple approach to exert control over the formation, size, and biocompatibility, of the resulting nanostructures.

S. Kralj et al., ACS Nano 14, 16951 (2020)

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User Area

Proposal Submission - Monthly based

For measurements not requiring particular setups, exploiting instruments already available at the beamline is possible to use a rapid allocation mechanism offering different advantages:
- no deadline: it is possible to submit a proposal at any time;
- proposal evaluation on a monthly basis;
- reduced dead-time between proposal submission and allocation;
- automatic re-submission in case of overbooking.
We strongly encourage XRD1 users to take advantage of this new procedure, available at the VUO page via the link “Monthly proposal”. It will be still possible to apply on a six-month basis if the experiment requires a particular setup in order to be performed or extended time is required for bureaucratic purposes such as VISA applications.

Proposal Submission - Other

For experiments not eligible to monthly access (for which a particular setup or long times issues, as VISA, are required), the standard six-month based procedure should be followed (look for the User Area in the quick links). The deadlines for proposal submission for beamtime allocation are aroud mid-March, for the period January 1st to June 30th, and mid-September, for the period July 1st to December 31th, at 4:30 pm (MET).

Quick Links

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 September 2020 15:38