Europe UK (Commonwealth Union) – X-ray crystallography is crucial for determining the structures of molecules, which plays an essential role in research for the medical sector and various industries.
A new center established in partnership with the University of Southampton and the University of Warwick will utilize the skills from universities leading to a game changer for chemical industries, such as manufacturing, pharma and electronics.
The National Electron Diffraction Facility, which is a section of the National Crystallography Service (NCS), is set to become the 1st in the UK and the 1st national facility in the globe. The application of electrons, rather than conventional X-ray crystallography, will give scientists the capability to evaluate and determine the structure of much smaller crystals than possible on prior occasions. This will pave the way for the design of new and enhanced materials in a variety economically vital areas like batteries, catalysts, energy storage materials, solar cells, pharmaceuticals and more, enhancing actions on the green transition.
The current economic hurdles in the UK and many parts of the world have further highlighted the need for greater efficiency particularly for the energy sector hence this new center is likely to be a welcome step in the right direction being a part of enhancing energy efficiency.
A research grant of £3.2 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council was obtained and backed by a Rigaku, the center of excellence for electron diffraction will be available for academic and commercial partners in July this year.
“We are extremely proud to continue our long partnership with the UK National Crystallography Service. The NCS has been using Rigaku X-ray instruments for 13 years and will shortly be adding two of the world’s first dedicated electron diffractometer, the XtaLAB Synergy-ED, to their service at the universities of Southampton and Warwick. Our partnership will drive innovation and development in the rapidly growing field of electron diffraction,” explained Dr Mark Benson, General Manager, of Global Sales and Marketing, Rigaku.