Application route

I14, the hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline at Diamond Light Source, is currently accepting users.
We are offering a staged roll out of techniques and users should look at the Techniques page for updates on sample environments and experimental methods.

For further information on access to I14 please visit the Access Routes page of the Diamond User Office. Useful information on applying and preparing beamtime can be found here.

General remarks:

Sample preparation is critical in X-ray microscopy and it is frequently found that sample preparation is underestimated, or more than one attempt is needed to discover or optimise the protocols essential for a successful experiment.

In order to optimise the success of I14 experiments beamline access is organised as follows:

Standard access route
Rapid access
Proprietary route

Two calls per year will be issued with deadlines usually on the first week of April and the first week of October each for a six months period, these are October-March and April-September respectively. Please visit the 'Apply for beamtime' pages of the Diamond User Office.

Standard access is considered as the principal route for experiments at I14 in cases where you can provide evidence for the existence of a successful sample preparation protocol. Applications should be made on line, following the instructions listed at end of this webpage.

Please contact the I14 team before any application.

Rapid access route is currently available to evaluate the feasibility of a future experiments proposals as 'pilot studies'.

This access mode has only very limited numbers of shifts available per allocation period and a typical time slot allocated to one rapid access user group is 3 shifts or 24 hours.

The proposal template can be downloaded at the Rapid Access User Office web page, where additional information is provided. Allocation and schedule for Rapid Access are usually decided within four weeks from submission.

Please contact Julia Parker for further information.

Projects and results are confidential and available only to the user group. There is a fee for beamtime used and services provided.

Please refer enquiries to the Industrial Liaison department.

Instructions for proposal submission

Please register or login to the Diamond UAS and 'Create New Proposal' - You will receive an email from Diamond every time the proposal application window is open.
Once registered, the application need to be identified as standard call, rapid access or long-term proposal.
At the 'Science Overview' tab please pick up the more updated version of science-case template and fill it in following the internal section's guidelines and constraints.
Add as many investigators as desired. You may include any i14 staff member (or Diamond staff) if your proposal is part of a research collaboration.
During your proposal preparation, please select 'I14 - Hard X-ray nanoprobe' at the 'Instruments' tab, and "Answer Instrument Questions". If unsure of how to answer any of these, please contact an i14 staff member. Unless you need access to the external laboratories and/or facilities, usally you have to reply "No" to the two questions at the bottom of the main instruments tab.
Preliminary discussions with i14 staff regarding number of shifts to be applied (1 shift = 8 hours, 3 shifts = 1 beam-day) is highly recommended.
List all the expected experimental samples plus the standards, identifying them as either non-toxic, chemical or biological samples. Fill all the associated question regarding sample concentration and known hazards.
Only list the external instrumentation you are bringing to Diamond in the "Equipment" tab.
An experimental method must be written, describing the nature of your samples (ex-situ deposited on a silicon nitride window, in-situ cells) and the analysis you want to perform (i.e. XRF, XANES, XRD, ptychography).
Check that all sections are completed and the beamtime proposal is updated before submitting your proposal.

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Science Group Leader

Paul Quinn

I14 Hard X-ray Nanoprobe

Application route

Instructions for proposal submission