I15-1 Contact
Beamline Phone Number:
+44 (0) 1235 778144
Principal Beamline Scientist:
Philip Chater
Tel: +44 (0) 1235 778677
E-mail: philip.chater@diamond.ac.uk
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.
XPDF typically operates with two large area detectors, one placed close to the sample to the provide the large Q range required for quality PDF data (Qmax up to 40 Å–1 at 76.7 keV) and one mounted further from the sample for simultaneous higher-resolution Bragg data.
Layout of the XPDF (I15-1) and Extreme Conditions (I15) beamlines.
One of the PDF data collection geometries possible on XPDF.
A spinning capillary sample at the XPDF sample position.
Processing of XPDF data using the Dawn Processing perspective.
PDF + Bragg geometry with two area detectors.
The AP31 user call is now open with a deadline of 6th October. This will cover beamtime from April to September 2022. It is forseen that with the easing of pandemic conditions in the UK we will be back to normal operations for this run. Any experiments that you would still want to be completed via mail-in should be highlighted in the proposal.
With regard to reserved proposals which have not been scheduled from AP29-30 (proposals awarded time since April 2021) please contact xpdf@diamond.ac.uk to see if it is likely to be scheduled between now and March 2022. This may include proposals which have been partially run via mail-in, but not completed. Any proposal which hasn’t been scheduled prior to this (AP27-AP28 - i.e. April 2020-April 2021) should be considered cancelled and you should resubmit if required.
I15-1 is currently installing a new detector and endstation, so the Rapid Access route is not available and is unlikley to be possible before the end of the year. Please contact xpdf@diamond.ac.uk if you require an update.
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 |
| Primary detector |
Perkin Elmer XRD 1611 CP3 409.6 × 409.6 mm2 active area 100 μm pixel size, 4 Hz read-out |
Available |
| Secondary detector | Perkin Elmer XRD 4343 CT
432 × 432 mm2 active area 150 μm pixel size, 15 Hz read-out (TBC) |
Available |
| XY sample stage |
250 mm (h) × 450 mm (v) travel 5 kg load capacity |
Undergoing modifications (contact beamline staff for details). |
| 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, but not for mail-in experiments (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, but not for mail-in experiments |
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.
Diamond Light Source is the UK's national synchrotron science facility, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
Copyright © 2020 Diamond Light Source
Diamond Light Source Ltd
Diamond House
Harwell Science & Innovation Campus
Didcot
Oxfordshire
OX11 0DE
Diamond Light Source® and the Diamond logo are registered trademarks of Diamond Light Source Ltd
Registered in England and Wales at Diamond House, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, United Kingdom. Company number: 4375679. VAT number: 287 461 957. Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number: GB287461957003.
Crystallography
Macromolecular
Soft Condensed 
Imaging and
Biological
Magnetic
Structures and
Crystallography 
Spectroscopy