Beamline Phone Number:
+44 (0) 1235 778144
Principal Beamline Scientist:
Philip Chater
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 778677
E-mail: philip.chater@diamond.ac.uk
Email: joseph.hriljac@diamond.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1235 4494052
XPDF (I15-1) is the dedicated X-ray Pair Distribution Function beamline. XPDF is applicable to a diverse range of disciplines such as materials chemistry, solid-state physics, earth sciences and pharmaceuticals.
Researchers are able to study the local structure of crystalline, semi-crystalline and amorphous solids and liquids with a speed and robustness which has not been possible at Diamond before. The beamline optics and endstation have been optimised to give the high X-ray energy, high flux and low background signal which are necessary for quality PDF data.
I15-1 is currently commissioning a new "ARC" detector which will revolutionise PDF data collections. This detector will allow faster and higher quality PDF data than ever possible before.
We are delighted to inform you that the upgrade of the cryocoolers of the I15 wiggler by the Diamond Insertion Device Group has been successful. I15-1 received beam into the experimental hutch on the 24th of January. The upgrade ensures a more robust and continuous operation for I15 and I15-1. In order to de-risk future operations even further, Diamond Management have now sent out a call for tender for companies to offer to supply a new wiggler, which would be a spare or replacement for I12 or I15.
The I15-1 team have resumed the User programm while finalising the upgrade to the endstation and installation and commissioning of the ARC detector. The ARC detector is due to undergo with-beam commssioning in Winter 2023 and will be available for testing with user samples very soon.
I15-1 aims to have slots available for Rapid Access experiments at regular intervals in the user programme. The next Rapid Access dates are 9-10th December 2023 and 9-10th February 2024. Please contact xpdf@diamond.ac.uk if you are interested in submitting a Rapid Access proposal.
Some information on beamline equipment is listed below.
| Item | Specification | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Beam size at focus |
700 μm horizontal by 10 μm vertical Standard size at sample 700 μm x 150 μm |
Available |
| Bent-Laue monochromator |
40.0, 65.4 and 76.6 keV 700 μm horizontal focussing |
Available |
| Multi-layer mirror | 10 μm vertical focussing | Available |
| XPDF-ARC detector |
Custom-built CdTe photon counting detector 55 μm pixel size, 25 Hz continuous collection, 500 Hz burst mode |
Online commissoining |
| Secondary detector | Perkin Elmer XRD 4343 CT
432 × 432 mm2 active area 150 μm pixel size, 15 Hz read-out (TBC) |
Available |
| Hexapod sample stage |
Symetrie Puna 40 mm (h) × 60 mm (v) travel 10 kg load capacity |
Available |
| Robotic sample changer | 440 positions for spun capillaries | Available |
| Hot air blower | 350 - 1100 K | Available |
| Cobra | 90 - 500 K | Available |
| Hydrothermal cell |
Zero-background capillary cell for hydrothermal reactions RT - 473 K |
Available (contact beamline staff for details) |
| Gas cell |
Capillary cell for flowing gas experiments. A limited set of gasses is currently available. Can be used with the hot air blower. |
Commissioning (contact beamline staff for details) |
| eChem system | 8-channel Ivium-n-Stat electrochemical analyser for battery cycling, impedance analysis and more. | Available (contact beamline staff for details) |
See the sample environment page for more details on the equipment available. New sample environment equipment is always in development. For more information about proposed experiments please contact xpdf@diamond.ac.uk.
An overview of the XPDF beamline presented at the IUCr2017 conference is available here.
For more information about any aspect of XPDF, please email xpdf@diamond.ac.uk.
For an overview of the potential applications, download the XPDF leaflet here.
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Crystallography
Macromolecular
Soft Condensed 
Imaging and
Biological
Magnetic
Structures and
Crystallography 
Spectroscopy 
