A unique X-ray diffractometer Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy-S, manufactured by the world's leading manufacturer - Rigaku Oxford Diffraction, has been put into operation at the resource center "X-ray diffraction research methods" of the Science Park of St. Petersburg State University. Its uniqueness lies in the use of a specially designed high-stability sharp-focus X-ray source PhotonJet-S, a new high-speed direct-action detector HyPix-6000HE, and two systems for stabilizing the temperature of the sample under study. The first, well-known Oxford Cryostream 800 system, will allow us to conduct research at temperatures from 80 to 500 K, and the second, a unique system manufactured by FMB Oxford, allows us to study the behavior of the crystal structure at temperatures from 100 to 1000 ° C.
Thus, SPbU scientists were able to conduct research on both inorganic and organic compounds at a fundamentally new level and obtain results in a significantly shorter time.
Scientific group of the Chair of crystallography headed by prof. Oleg Sydra received a new type of nanotubes. Its structure contains unique uranyl sulfate [(UO2)6(SO4)10]8− nanotubules templated by protonated N-phenylglycine (C6H5NH2CH2COOH)+. Their internal diameter is 1.4 nm.The results of the research, supported by the Russian Science Foundation, are published in the journal Nanomaterials http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/8/4/216.
RC staff members Margarita Avdontceva and Taras Panikorovsky participated in the 8th European Conference on Mineralogy and Spectroscopy with oral presentations. Conference took place in Rome, Italy.
The meeting was attended by more than 100 scientists from Europe, Middle and Far East, Australia and USA (1st place Italy 40%, 2nd place Russia 19 %) specializing in crystallography, x-ray analysis, crystal chemistry, spectroscopy and material sciences. The first place among the participants of the conference took Italy (40 %), Russia – the second place (19 %). The participitation in the conference allowed to share experience with European colleagues, to study a new diffraction equipment which was presented by Bruker, to introduce Research centre for X – Ray diffraction studies and to show the recent results obtained by using RC equipment.
The joint scientific group at the Saint-Petersburg State University and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has recently published the results of the studies on the possible sources of prebiotic phosphorus at the times of the early Earth. The highlights of the findings have been presented at the regular SPSU Science lunch meeting held by Associate Prof. Dr. Sergey Britvin and the head of the Department of Crystallography Prof. Dr. Sergey Krivovichev. The scientists have pointed out that the current level of the studies in the mineralogy could not be imagined even a few years ago. The modern scientific equipment provided by the Scientific Park of SPSU is an absolutely essential requirement for the development of contemporary science.
RC staff members Margarita Avdontseva, Taras Panikorovsky and Andrei Zolotarev participated in the 21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, Johannesburg 01.09.– 05.09. 2014,
where they presented reports of results investigations which performed by RC XRD equipment.
Reports are available in "Publications" section.
The deputy director of the Research Centre Gurzhiy V.V. took part at the 23d Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography (Montreal, Canada, August 5-12, 2014), where he presented report on the results of work performed on the equipment of XRD RC.
It is worth noting that the Congress is held in an officially declared by UNESCO The International Year of Crystallography that commemorates not only the centennial of X-ray diffraction, which allowed the detailed study of crystalline material, but also the 400th anniversary of Kepler’s observation in 1611 of the symmetrical form of ice crystals.
Dear users, due to the technical problems, single crystal diffractometers Bruker «Kappa APEX II DUO» and Rigaku «R-AXIS RAPID II» are taken out of service starting from today (01.04.2014). We apologize for any delays in the researches based on single-crystal diffraction.
In celebration of the St. Petersburg State University 290th anniversary, today held a meeting of the Vice Rectors for Research Association of St. Petersburg Universities and Institutes and representatives of leading scientific schools of St. Petersburg. The guests got acquainted with the work of our Research Center, they were also shown an equipment of the Center and talked about the research carried out by university and external organizations staff.
Dear colleagues!
According to Your request, the special courses on training of taking measurements on "MiniFlex II" powder diffractometers and working in a specialized software package for processing diffraction data (PDXL produced by the «Rigaku» company) postponed to January 27.
December 30 - working day
December 31 - working day (phase analysis till 15-00)
January 1-8 - holydays
January 9-10 - working days
January 11-12 - weekend break
Today, members of the International Committee on Scientific Policy (ICSP) NRC "Kurchatov Institute" acquainted with the work of our RC. During the excursion the guests were shown the X-ray equipment of RC and were told about the areas of research performed on it by University staff and external organizations.
Today have been defended the first works for the degree of Ph.D. SPbSU, Geology (Ph.D. SPbSU, Earth Sciences): E.S. Zhitova (Elena Zhitova) «Crystal Chemistry of Natural Layered Double Hydroxides»; A.S. Pakhomova (Anna Pakhomova) «Crystal Chemistry of Natural and Synthetic Titanium and Molybdenum Oxocompounds». Scientific supervisor – Sergey V. Krivovichev, Prof. Dr. Chairman, Department of Crystallography. Crystal structure investigations have been prepared on the equipment of SPbSU Research Centre for X-ray Diffraction Studies.
RC staff member Igor Kasatkin have listen the course of lectures "Analysis of texture" and "Stress Analysis" at the "Bruker AXS" (Karlsruhe, Germany) company factory and received related certificates.
RC staff members Margarita Avdontseva, Daria Spiridonova and Taras Panikorovsky participated in the 3rd International Conference "Crystallogenesis and Mineralogy" (3rd International Conference on Crystallogenesis and Mineralogy, Novosibirsk 27.09. - 01.10., 2013), where they have presented reports on the results of investigations performed with the help of RC XRD equipment. Poster reports are available in the "Publications" section.
Today, the participants of the International Conference "Clays, clay minerals and layered materials-2013" held with the participation of St. Petersburg State University, visited the Research Centre for X-ray Diffraction Studies. Alexander Puchkov, the specialist from E-Globaledge Corporation, demonstrated the possibilities of hardware and software for X-ray diffraction analysis produced by Rigaku Company, and staff members of the XRD RC discussed with the guests directions of possible joint research.
