X-ray Diffraction Laboratory

Mgr. František Laufek
Head of the Laboratory

X-ray diffraction

Beginning with the pioneering experiments conducted in 1913 and 1914, X-ray diffraction has become an important tool for studying minerals. Today it is a standard technique in many laboratories that is capable of providing a wealth of information in areas such as phase identification, crystal structure analyses, quantitative analyses, strain measurement, particle size determination, etc.

Laboratory of X-ray diffraction

In the last decade, significant progress has been achieved in the analytical service, development of new methods and publication activity. Perhaps the most significant change was the purchase of the new powder diffractometer Philips X’pert System. This diffractometer is automated and interfaced to a computer to analyze data quickly and easily. Simultaneously, because of availability of more powerful computers and new generations of computer software, numerous advances were made in the analysis of data including phase identification and Rietveld refinement of crystal structures.

At present, the Laboratory (as one of the first of its kind in the Czech Republic) is affiliated with the Centre for Molecular and Crystal Structures at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague. The employees of the Laboratory have continual access to a modern four-circle diffractometer with the CCD detector.

Experimental facilities

• powder diffractometer Philips X’Pert MPD system (Bragg-Brentano reflecting geometry, vertical goniometer PW 3020)
• Nonius Guinier Camera
• STOE precession camera

Projects

Our main activities include a phase identification in geological materials, identification of clay minerals, development of methods for quantitative analysis, Rietveld analysis and description of new mineral phases. In cooperation with other institutions, solution of the crystal structures of new natural and synthetical phases. Last but not least, the research is focused on the investigation of crystal structures and phase relations in the Sb-Ni-Te ternary system (in cooperation with the Laboratory of Experimental Mineralogy).

Price list (price for one sample)

410	data collecting (qualitative analysis)	280 CZK
411	data collecting (quantitative analysis)	740 CZK
412	data collecting for lattice parameters refinement	650 CZK
413	data collecting - Guniere camera	450 CZK
414	data collecting - Debye Scherrer camera	700 CZK
415	data collecting - Gandolfi camera	920 CZK
416	data collecting for crystal structure analysis	1 600 CZK
420	qualitative analysis - one phase sample	290 CZK
421	qualitative analysis - clay minerals	420 CZK
422	qualitative analysis - mixture	600 CZK
430	semiquantitative analysis	750 CZK
431	quantitative analysis	1 850 CZK
432	quantitative analysis based on chemical analysis	1 320 CZK
440	unit cell finding	940 CZK
450	crystallinity determination	1 150 CZK
455	Rietveld analysis	3 500 CZK
460	separation of clay minerals and preparing of oriented specimen	500 CZK