Welcome

The Inorganic Materials Characterisation (IMC) facility is based in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory on South Parks Road, specialising in magnetic property and powder X-ray diffraction measurements. The facility houses an two MPMS SQUID magnetometers, low temperature conductivity measurement apparatus, and five Powder X-ray diffractometers. The facility provides training to allow users to conduct their own measurements and support for interpreting their data. Access is open to members of the Chemistry department and is open to external researchers on request.

Magnetic property measurements are possible in the standard MPMS-3 operating modes covering 1.8-400 K with DC, AC, and VSM magnetic measurement. Additional options are available including, Ultra low field, oven 300-1000 K, sample rotator, magneto-optic rod, and 1.3GPa high pressure cell.

The powder X-ray diffraction facilities are mainly focussed on collecting routine PXRD patterns for characterisation. The Bruker D8 diffractometer and Panalytical X'pert are configured to provide high throughput powder diffraction measurements, the former equipped with a fluorescence filtering detector and the latter a higher intensity source. The Cu sourced Empyrean diffractometer is configured for single-wavelength high resolution Bragg Brentano powder diffraction, whilst the Mo sourced Empyrean can be operated with either; a PheniX cryostat for low temperature measurements in Bragg Brentano geometry, or a focussing mirror for transmission geometry capillary measurements. Finally, a the most recent addition is a Cu sourced Rigaku Smartlab diffractometer with additional options for measuring thin films, nanomaterials and high temperature measurements. Air-sensitive measurements are possible on all diffractometers with in-house designed sample holders.

GIXRD, transmission SAXS, Reflectively, PDF, Low temperature (15-300 K) PXRD measurements and high temperature (25-1000 C) measurements are possible.