Acquisition of a Powder X-ray Diffractometer

University Of Toledo, Toledo OH

Investigators

Abstract

With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities (CRIF) Program, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Toledo will acquire a powder X-ray diffractometer. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including studies on a) negative thermal expansion materials; b) thin film voltaics; c) heterometallic sulfide-bridged clusters as precursors to mixed-metal sulfide catalysts; d) microcrystalline examination of enzymes structural changes; and e) analysis of crystalline protein/DNA complexes. The X-ray diffractometer allows accurate and precise measurements of the full three dimensional structure of a molecule, including bond distances and angles, and it provides accurate information about the spatial arrangement of the molecule relative to the neighboring molecules. These studies will have an impact in a number of areas, especially biochemistry and materials science.