Single crystal diffraction is a powerful X-ray technique for structural solution of crystals typically of 10 - 200 µm in diameter. It provides key information on the symmetry and atom positions in these crystals. Usage spans from routine structural work on organic and metal-organic small molecules to highly detailed investigations of heavy metal oxides that can include twins, modulated structures or diffuse scattering. Typical collection times to solve a structure range from 20 minutes to several days, for the most challenging tiny low symmetry disordered crystals.

The X-ray facility at Warwick is equipped with two state-of-the-art dual wavelength (Cu/Mo) microfocus X-ray source single-crystal diffractometers. Support for single-crystal diffraction is provided either by our resident Crystallographer, Guy Clarkson (g dot clarkson at warwick dot ac dot uk), or by the Facility manager David Walker (d dot walker dot 2 at warwick dot ac dot uk.)

The Rigaku Oxford Diffraction Synergy S is equipped with the latest HyPix-6000HE Hybrid Photon Counting (HPC) detector which allows for extremely fast data collection of the entire Ewald sphere and measurement of very small crystals that were previously restricted to the Syncrotron. For low temperature experiments (80 K - 400 K) an Oxford Cryosystems Cobra Plus is attached to the system. For high-pressure measurements, an extended beamstop is available, allowing larger cells to be mounted.