Structure and Morphology


The Structure and Morphology Laboratory aims to the characterization of solid and liquid materials at micro- and nano-scale using the X-Ray diffraction principle. The Spectroscopy Lab is equipped with a Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) system used to determine the crystallisation degree, size of crystals and spatial arrangement and materials phase analysis, and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) used to explore the microstructure.

 

 

Equipment:

   
 
  • Small-angle X-ray Scattering, SAXS system (CDRSP designed for polymer analysis)
  • Wide-angle X-ray Scattering, WAXS system (CDRSP designed for polymer analysis)
  • Time-resolving x-ray scattering complete with tensiometer, heating/cooling stage, Magnetic field stage, shear cell, 3d printer and x-y stage for mapping structure and morphology in samples
  • 3 circle Diffractometer
  • 4 circle Diffractometer
  • Refractometer
  • Sample stages for use of Synchrotron SAXS/WAXS beamlines (eg NCD-SWEET ALBA Synchrotron Light Source)
  • Samples stages for use at Neutron scattering instruments (eg NIMROD and LOQ at ISIS Pulsed Neutron Source)
  • Fourier Transform Infra-red Microscope equipped with a Bruker Equinox 55 spectrometer together with heating and cooling stages
   

The Lab offers state-of-the-art instrumentation for sample conditioning stages:

   
 
  • Temperature
  • Magnetic Field
  • Electric Field
  • Pressure
  • Tensile
  • Compression
  • Torsion
  • Shear Stress (fluids)
   

Data acquisition is performed during the spectroscopic analysis through two main softwares:

   
 
  • XESA – Experimental Scattering Analysis
  • MESA – Molecular Editor for Structural Analysis
   

The Structure and Morphology Laboratory is also associated with CDRSP research experiments at European Synchrotrons.

 
Laboratory Coordinator: Prof. Geoffrey Mitchell