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.
 
 

Webinar: Focus on Battery Research: Studying Battery Cathode Materials Using X-Ray Diffraction

Tuesday, April 22: 10:30-11:30AM.

The cathode in a lithium-ion battery undergoes unique electrochemical reactions as lithium enters and leaves the atomic structure of the intercalated lithium compound. The intricacies of this reaction are one source of degradation and, therefore, an opportunity to improve performance. X-ray diffraction and scattering is well-suited to study these atomic phase changes, as well as a tool to understand and optimize the pathways that lithium uses to move through the cathode. However, studying battery materials requires special considerations that are different than the routine powder diffraction measurement.

This webinar, hosted by Malvern PANalytical will review the information that X-ray diffraction and scattering provides and discuss special considerations for experimental design such as selecting an X-ray tube, measurement geometry, and sample holder. We will then show examples of how these considerations are applied to cathode material analysis, including Rietveld refinement to quantify phase mixtures and atomic structure, pair distribution function analysis to examine local structural defects, and phase analysis of thick (10mm) commercial pouch cells, and in operando analysis of LFP based batteries to track phase changes during discharge and charging.

You can sign up for it here.

Speakers

Dr. Scott Speakman – Principal Scientist Malvern Panalytical
and Dr. Reeves-McLaren of The University of Sheffield

More information

– Who should attend?
Those working within the field of battery research or manufacturing or anyone interested in X-ray Diffraction of materials.
– What will you learn?
You will be educated on the X-ray diffraction and scattering application of lithium-ion batteries, including: Electrochemical reactions and atomic phase changes, with discussion on the special considerations needed for this application.

 

SingleCrystal for Mac and Windows is now released!

The client for SingleCrystal is now out of Beta and available for GT users! If you would like the license, please send an email to David.Tavakoli@mse.gatech.edu from your GT mailing address!

As a reminder, all of the Crystalmaker software suite is available for Georgia Tech and we hope that you are well, safe, and healthy!

From the classroom to the laboratory to the synchrotron: SingleCrystal is the easiest way to visualize and understand diffraction properties of crystals. SingleCrystal 4 lets you simulate multi-phase X-ray, neutron and electron diffraction patterns, display reciprocal lattice sections and construct stereographic projections of planes or vectors. By combining a simulated pattern with an observed diffraction image, you can auto-index the pattern and determine the orientation of your crystal.

Crystalmaker Software Suite for 2020

The MCF has renewed the site license for the Crystalmaker Software Suite (Crystal Maker, Single Crystal, Crystal Diffract)

For more information about what the software is capable of, please visit the company website here.

OIT has updated their website with the new codes for 2020 but you can also email David.Tavakoli at mse.gatech.edu from a gatech email address for them as well.

New XANES/XAFS System Coming to the MCF!

The MCF is getting a new instrument capable of X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) and X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES).

This laboratory system for XAFS features a 1-2 kW conventional x-ray tube coupled to modern x-ray optics and detectors. It provides very rapid transmission-mode measurements suitable for research and development in electrical energy storage or catalysis while also giving extremely high throughput for general sample characterization or product testing. More details about the instrument can be found here from the instrument manufacturer.

 

Georgia Tech is hosting a workshop on XANES/XAFS techniques with an overview on Wednesday, December 11th and you can RSVP for that event here!

 

 

Webinar – How is Particle Size Measured

Masterclass
October 23
10:30 ET
The MCF will be showing this webinar on the monitor in Marcus at 10:30AM on October 23rd.
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There is a gamut of particle size distribution measurement techniques each with established history and advantages.

The killer word in particle size distribution is the last one (distribution) and measurement of broad distributions is the bane of all sizing techniques.

After a very short introduction to ‘how much sample should we measure to describe the distribution’, we’ll be running through the background of some of the more popular techniques (sieves, sedimentation, electrical-sensing zone) and will emphasize the popular light scattering techniques of laser diffraction and dynamic light scattering.

As an aside, we’ll be mentioning Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS).

SEM and EDS Short Course

The Materials Characterization Facility (MCF) at Georgia Tech will offer a short course on “Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS)” on October 8 & 9, 2018. This 2-day short course combines lectures and laboratory, and is designed for individuals interested in hands-on training in scanning electron microscopy techniques.

This short course will cover essential signal generation and detection techniques, including secondary and backscatter electrons, X-rays, low voltage imaging, and sample preparation techniques. Attendees will learn how to adjust operating conditions to gain valuable information about material samples. This course is suitable for both new and experienced researchers.

Target Audience

Attendance is open to researchers from academia, industry and government laboratories/organizations as well as to current Georgia Tech students, IEN and MCF users. Anyone who is interested in characterization of materials is invited and strongly encouraged to participate. The concepts and techniques presented are broadly applicable to materials.

Rates (Includes Lunch)

* Georgia Tech Rate: $150

* Academic and Government Rate: $250

* Industry Rate: $500

Registration and additional details may be found here

Webinar: Cold and Colder, Nanoindentation Down to -120°C

This webinar will be presented in the lobby of the MCF in the Marcus Building on Thursday, April 19th


8AM PDT | 11AM EDT | 15:00 GMT

Materials behavior is often dominated by highly localized phenomena, and the ability to probe these local properties for engineering devices is critical. Often these devices are operating in environments with large differences in temperature and pressure: from the high vacuum and cold of space to the high temperature and high pressure inside a deep-water oil well. This webinar will focus on testing from room temperature down to -100°C on a variety of materials classes;

Metals/Composites:
A fundamental study in a low carbon, 1018, steel is presented. This material is non-exotic, but plays a large role in the nuts and bolts of everyday life. 1018 steel is a two phase steel, containing both ferrite and pearlite phases that are easy to distinguish both via in contact SPM and high speed mapping of the steel, with the high C pearlite being much harder than the ferrite. This material also exhibits a ductile to brittle temperature transition at -5°C via Charpy impact testing. However, when the individual phases can be examined separately, the DBTT can be described to each phase. Besides a rapid increase in hardness, as the ability to cross-slip decreases, there is a change in the behavior of the load-displacement curve from smooth to heavily serrated flow dominated by pop-in behavior in the ferrite phase.

Polymer Films:
Determining the glass transition temperature of polymer films can be difficult due to specimen geometry that does not conform to typical macroscale test algorithms. Here, determination of polymer thin films is demonstrated by varying both temperature and frequency using a nanoscale equivalent test, nanoDMA III. Control of operating conditions below room temperature here is critical to understanding materials performance in a cold weather environment.

To find out more information or to sign up independently, you can click here.

Webinar: Nanoscale Tribology – Understanding Mechanical and Tribological Surface Modification in Lubricated Contacts

Webinar on Nanoscale Tribology: Understanding Mechanical and Tribological Surface Modification in Lubricated Contacts

This webinar will be on display in the lobby of the MCF in the Marcus Building at 11:00AM on March 15th.

Tribological properties play a critical role in the proper function, longevity, and energy efficiency of mechanical systems. The ability to quantitatively characterize surface interactions over the nanoscale and microscale provides a new understanding of how to better control friction and wear behavior in bulk material systems and thin tribological films.

In this webinar we will discuss the theory and applications of tribological and mechanical characterization over the nanometer to micrometer length scales. Practical applications will be presented relating to the field of lubricated sliding materials found in pistons, bearings, rubber gaskets, and other interacting components used in engines and power trains. We will demonstrate how nanoscale indentation and scratch testing provides powerful information for studying localized changes due to tribological processes and how these complimentary techniques provide greater insight to optimize tribological performance.

You can find more information and sign up for it to watch it at your desk here.

 

Webinar: Introduction to quantitative XRD methods using HighScore Plus

Read more

 

Webinar: February 6, 2018!

If you are interested in learning the basics of quantitative analysis using HighScore Plus X-ray Diffraction software, then join us for a free webinar. This webinar will introduce standard XRD quantitative methods, as well as the newest quantitative methods implemented in HighScore Plus software, such as Partial Least Squares Refinement (PLSR), Autoscaler Method (FULLPAT), and Direct Derivation Method after Toraya.

At the conclusion of the presentation a live question and answer session will be held. So do not miss this opportunity to learn about the newest methods for quantification by XRD, and which may be best suited to your types of materials.

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

Webinar details:

Date: February 6, 2018
Title: Introduction to quantitative XRD methods using HighScore Plus
Time: 10:00 AM EDT / 7:00 AM PDT
Duration: 45 minutes
Presenter: Dr. Anasuya Adibhatla Ph.D, XRD application specialist, Malvern Panalytical