X-Ray Crystallography Facility

The X-Ray Crystallography Facility (XRCF) has been supporting scientific research as part of the Beckman Institute (BI) at Caltech since 1992. Since inception, our primary mission has been to determine the crystal structure of small molecules, including organic, inorganic and organometallic compounds, X-ray Crystallography (XRC). The facility provides the appropriate personnel, equipment, and computing facilities for collecting X-ray diffraction data and determining the structures of small molecules from crystalline materials. The facility has expanded to include X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). Details for each analytical technique can be found in the links below.

X-Ray Crystallography (XRC)

X-ray crystallography is an analytical technique which can determine the positions of atoms in a crystal and can be used to understand the solid state structure of a molecule. In addition the handedness of a molecule can be determined for chiral compounds.

The XRCF is equipped with two Bruker single crystal diffractometers located in BI 110. A Bruker AXS D8 KAPPA four-circle diffractometer using Mo radiation from a sealed-tube X-ray generator or a Bruker AXS D8 VENTURE four-circle diffractometer using either Mo or Cu radiation from ImuS micro-sources. Both are equipped with Oxford Cryosystems crystal cooling systems. Data are routinely collected at 100K unless otherwise dictated by the experiment.

X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD)

X-ray powder diffraction is an analytical technique which can determine structure information from a polycrystalline powder.

The XRCF is equipped with a Rigaku SmartLab diffractometer and a PANalytical X'Pert Pro previously operated by the Faber Lab.

These instruments can be used by the Caltech community after training, details can be found at X-Ray Powder Diffraction.

Acknowledgements

Publications resulting from data collected in the XRCF should acknowledge the Beckman Institute for their support of the X-Ray Crystallography Facility at Caltech, details in the acknowledgement page. When any data obtained in the XRCF is published please email the citation to the director.

Other Resources

The Molecular Observatory (MOLOBS) provides facilities for protein crystallization, data collection, and access to the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL).

External Users

All services we offer are available to individuals or groups outside Caltech. Interested parties should contact the director.