News

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.
 
 

MCF Re-Opening! – June 18th

Dear User,

Thank you for your past support of the MCF. Research efforts at Georgia Tech are scheduled to resume in phases beginning on June 18th, and our core facilities are ready to return to operation after significant adaptations to the new norms for hygiene and social distancing.

To comply with the Georgia Tech COVID-19 task force recommendations, we have made changes to our previous operating procedures. They are briefly outlined below and detailed in the attached document.

Social distancing: Lab occupancy, ingress/egress, and tool utilization will be managed by staff, software (SUMS), and physical layout to achieve social distancing by reducing user density.
o   Until further notice, all tool usage should be by individuals – no pairs or larger groups.
o   In lab facilities, rooms are single-occupancy unless otherwise noted.
o   Unfortunately, there will be no in person training for new users until further notice.  The staff is working to create video and remote options for training.

Limited access: Until further notice – but for Phase 1 of the ramp-up at a minimum – the labs will not be open 24/7.
o   MCF open times are M-F 8:00 am – 10:00 pm and Sat/Sun 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. See attachment for detailed schedules.
o   SUMS will automatically limit access – scheduled and operational – to some tools in order to maintain proper user density.

PPE wear: There are new MCF requirements for PPE in the IEN and IMat facilities.
o   Gloves and a surgical – not cloth – mask are required in lab spaces.
o   There will be increased access to cleaning and hand hygiene supplies.

We are all making our way through this uncharted territory – together.

The staff of the MCF are taking on new cleaning and monitoring duties while also working extended hours and on weekends. At the same time, we understand that returning researchers have lost 3 months of productivity and are under great pressure to make up for lost time.
We have worked hard to create – and have long enjoyed – a positive working relationship between and among the staff and the researchers in our facility. More than ever we will be depending on this culture of mutual understanding and respect to make this re-opening go smoothly.

If you have any questions, concerns, or problems then please reach out to a staff member or the facility manager.

Sincerely,
The IEN and IMat Leadership

MCF New Procedures-Draft3 – final

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.