XRDs moving on March 6-March11, 2022

Hello everyone,

Our current set of XRD instruments, while capable and well-maintained, are beyond their design lifetime and – save for the Empyrean – are no longer supported by the OEM.  At the same time, we have had extensive conversations with faculty on campus who want to do more advanced XRD measurements than our current tools will support.
To address both issues:  We have some big news to share. With the financial and technical support of the EVPR and Prof. M. Mourigal, the MCF is acquiring three new XRD systems from Rigaku to be housed in the Marcus Microanalysis lab in the MCF.  This acquisition will add or extend capabilities for:
  • Cryo measurements (down to LHe temps)
  • PDF measurements
  • Auto-samplers for multi-sample measurements.
Though there will be a learning curve for the new data analysis SW, researchers will be able to do that analysis on their own computers instead of having to use the one central system in the MCF lab.
Not to bury the lede, but to prepare for the installation of the the XRDs, the existing PANalytical instruments will be moving to the Paper Tricentennial Building the week of March 6th. We anticipate that they will be down from March 6 to March 10, and should be available for use by Monday, March 13th. Please plan to complete your XRD work by Sunday, March 5th. 
There will be a transition of MCF support from the Panalytical systems to the Rigaku systems over the rest of calendar year 2022, but there should always be an operational PXRD and single-crystal system available in the MCF.

We want to stress that we are not losing any currently available capabilities and are adding several advanced measurement modes.  The new instruments give us flexibility to augment with additional capabilities over time.

Please contact David Tavakoli or another member of the MCF staff if you have any questions or concerns.

The MCF has acquired the new codes for the Crystalmaker Software suite and it is available for download for students and staff at Georgia Tech! The crystalmaker suite will enable you to create crystal models, simulate XRD patterns, and generate CIFs. For the codes, please contact David Tavakoli (david.tavakoli@mse.gatech.edu) from a GT email address. The codes will also be available from OIT in the new year.

More information can be found here.

Measurement & Characterization December Demo Days in Pettit 160

 

On Thursday and Friday, December 2nd & 3rd, the MCF in coordination with the IEN is hosting two days of measurement and characterization in the Pettit Microelectronics Building.

We plan to highlight previously available and new capabilities added over the last year for 2D, 3D, x-ray, and elemental measurements.

Please bring samples you are interested in measuring and staff will be happy to help you.

Download the flyer below, and we hope to see you there!

Where: Pettit 160
When: December 2nd & 3rd | 10:00AM – 5:00 PM

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the MCF Staff:

atavakoli6@gatech.edu, 770-689-6840

Pettit MCF Demo Day Advert Dec 2021

Fall 2021 Image Contest is now live!

After a hiatus, the quarterly MCF Image Contest is back and  the Fall 2021 submissions can be submitted here! Three quarterly winners of the contest will each receive 5 free hours on the characterization tool of their choosing and be entered into a semi-annual Grand Prize selection for cash prizes of $60 for First Prize and $30 for each of the two Second Prize winners.

Previous entries can be seen here!

If you are uncertain as to the rules of the submission process, those can be reviewed here.

New Crystalmaker Software Suite for 2021

The Crystalmaker Software suite is available for download for students and staff at Georgia Tech! The crystalmaker suite will enable you to create crystal models, simulate XRD patterns, and generate CIFs. For the codes, please contact David Tavakoli (david.tavakoli@mse.gatech.edu) from a GT email address.

Renishaw Webinar on Particle Size Determination

The New Raman Renishaw Particle Analysis Software – Targeted Raman Data Collection

Wednesday, September 30th – 2:00pm (EST)

Renishaw’s upcoming Particle Analysis software enables targeted Raman data collection from optical image contrast. This approach ensures data is only collected from the areas of interest, making it a fast and automated method.

In this webinar, we will show how the diverse high performing optical contrast methods of the inVia Raman microscope can be used to quickly, easily, and automatically report particle identities and morphology together. Applied to a diverse range of applications, from microplastics to materials and forensics to pharmaceuticals, see how Particle Analysis can benefit your work.

This webinar will be broadcast in the MCF Lobby in the Marcus Nanotechnology Building.

Register for it here!

 

AVS Webinar: Surface Characterization of Biomaterials with X-rays and Ion Guns

Surfaces play an important role in almost all aspects of our lives.  For example, biosensors that are used to detect and identify diseases are often based on chemical surface modifications. The interaction of small molecules or nanoparticles with surfaces such as lung tissue is also often dictated by surface chemistry. This means that it is critical to know as much as possible about a surface in order to both understand the interactions that occur and to be able to design surfaces that promote successful interactions.

Who Should Attend

This webinar is intended for researchers, students, technologists and others involved in research with biomaterial and biological surfaces who are looking to gain an understanding or broaden their knowledge on how XPS and ToF-SIMS can help in characterizing biological and biomaterial surfaces and interactions. The course will be beneficial to a large audience, from young scientists to engineers, as various aspects from instrumentation through best practices for sample handling, data collection and data analysis will be discussed in the context of characterizing organic materials with XPS and ToF-SIMS.

The deadline for registration for this workshop is Sept 11, 2020 and you can register for it here.

Overview
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Time: 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
Platform: Zoom
Cost:

Please note this workshop is NOT free, but there is student pricing.

Rigaku Virtual Conference on XRD and XRF August 4-6!

Rigaku will be hosting a virtual conference on XRD and XRF this week that is free to register here!

Due to the COVID-19 induced cancellations of the Microscopy & MicroAnalysis, Denver X-ray, and American Crystallographic Association physical conferences this summer, Rigaku will be live webcasting a 3-day virtual Analytical X-ray Convention from our laboratory facility in Texas. The webcasts will take place Tuesday 8/4 – Thursday 8/6 and will feature live seminars on X-ray techniques and live instrument demonstrations.

Enjoy the presentations on Channel 1 (XRD), Channel 2 (XRF) and Channel 3 (X-ray Microscopy), and make sure to stop by our Concierge Booth on Channel 4 to say hello, live video chat, and participate in some fun events. We will be announcing upcoming Channel 4 events on the channel itself and via our Rigaku twitter feed (@rigaku, hashtag #RAXC2020), which you can view see on the right to keep up to date with what is going on.

Check the starting times for each day in the program, as different channels have different starting times. All four channels will be broadcast simultaneously and you can move among the four booths using the channel links.

Note that the three guest presentations—to be given by Rigaku sponsors—will all take place on channel 3. This has been updated on the program schedule.

Safety Videos Required for Returning to Campus

The MCF Staff look forward to welcoming our users back to campus and hope you are all safe and well.

From the office of the EVPR:

Research Ramp-Up Details

 

As part of a careful, gradual return to campus operations, research ramp-up activities are anticipated to begin as early as June 18. Only researchers and staff who must return to campus in order to carry out their job duties should return to work on campus. Supervisors will provide specific direction to their teams on when to return to in-person work. Anyone with questions about when or how they should start reporting to work in-person should, first, ask their supervisor.

Required: “Returning Safely to Your Lab” Video

If you have been identified by your supervisor to return to your lab, or if you have been working in one of the labs that has remained open, you will be required to watch the “Returning Safely to Your Lab” videos. The six-part module will include what you can expect, recommended safety precautions, cleaning and disinfection best practices, and proper use and disposal of PPE, among other helpful tips for best ensuring your safety and the safety of others.

Video Instructions:

  • Access the video by logging in at https://training.osp.gatech.edu/.
  • Click “My Online Classes” in left menu.
  • Select the first item: “Returning Safely to Your Lab.”
  • In “Available Courses” – click “Returning Safely to Your Lab.”
  • Click ‘Enroll Me.’
  • There are six video segments — when finished with each segment, go to the menu on the left side of the screen to start the next video.
  • After segment six, click Quiz in the menu and follow next steps to record that you have viewed the videos.