Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

This proposal is to obtain a new area detector to replace an existing scintillation counter for the Bruker powder X-ray diffractometers in the UBC Department of Chemistry's Structural Characterization Facility. This X-ray diffraction facility is primarily used by researchers within chemistry, but also serves several researchers from other departments across campus. The existing detector is over 8 years old and no longer serves the needs of the users. The upgrade will permit analysis of weakly diffracting materials and materials where there is a limited amount of sample. In fact, the new detector is expected to improve the instrument sensitivity by nearly a factor of 200, which will significantly reduce collection times and improve signal to noise ratios. We are requesting funds for the detector and computer upgrades to make the computers and software compatible with the new detector. The equipment is important for the training of HQP. Researchers at all levels - undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc - will be able to receive hands-on training on the instrument if it is useful for their research.