The X-ray diffraction suite at the University of Warwick is a Research Technology Platform (RTP) offering state-of-the-art X-ray scattering services, primarily for materials research. The suite is headed by the academic director, Professor Richard Walton, and the facility manager, Dr David Walker with support from our SAXS specialist, Dr Steven Huband, and our senior technician, Dave Hammond. It was founded by Professor Pam Thomas. Our team are highly knowledgeable and have multi-disciplined expertise. For further information and any enquiries regarding the use of these X-ray facilities for industrial work please contact the facilities manager Dr David Walker or visit the Warwick Scientific Services website.
The X-ray RTP is located on the 3rd floor of the new Materials & Analytical Science (MAS) building and is well equipped for the study of the structure of a wide variety of materials including single-crystals, epitaxial thin-films, polycrystalline layers, ceramics and powders under both ambient and non-ambient conditions. The suite currently houses five powder diffractometers, two high resolution diffractometers and two single-crystal diffractometers for small molecule structural solution. A powerful Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) system for elemental analysis from B - U.
A dedicated Small Angle X-ray Scattering system (SAXS) is available for measurements of polymers and other nanomaterials in a variety of sample forms, included liquid dispersed nanoparticles, gels, powders and thin films (GISAXS).
The X-ray suite is available for contract work by industrial users at competitive rates. A wide range of services are available, including powder diffraction for phase identification, structural determination, accurate lattice parameter determination, in-situ diffraction, stress & texture measurements, SAXS, XRF, single-crystal structural solution and more. A variety of forms of sample can be accommodated from large single crystals, liquid dispersed nano-particles, thin-films, and solids to ceramics and powders.
For a virtual tour of the facility, please see our video below:
We are pleased to announce that Dr Mark SennLink opens in a new window has taken over from Professor Richard Walton Link opens in a new windowas academic director of the X-ray facility. Richard has been involved with the RTP since it was founded in 2014 and we thank him for all the hard work that he has put in over the years. The X-ray Diffraction facility worked with Teer Coatings Ltd, a specialist manufacturer of surface coatings, on their project to understand the antimicrobial and aging properties of coatings for spacecraft equipment using Small Angle X-ray Scattering. Paper from Louis Piper and co-workers to enable optimisation of metal oxide battery cathodes: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.2c09937 B. Leforestier, M. R. Gyton & A. B. Chaplin, Oxidative addition of a mechanically entrapped C(sp)–C(sp) bond to a rhodium(I) pincer complex M. C. Hatnean, O. A. Petrenko, M. R. Lees, T. E. Orton & G. Balakrishnan, Optical Floating Zone Crystal Growth of Rare-Earth Disilicates,R2Si2O7(R = Er, Ho, and Tm)New Academic Director (Dr Mark Senn)
Case Study: Developing coatings for spacecraft equipment
UK national facility poised to expand use of state-of-the-art electron diffraction
World-class centre for single crystal electron diffraction will be UK first
First paper published from our laboratory XAFS spectrometer
Paper of the Month
Paper of the Month