Apparatus and method for identification of crystals by in-situ X-ray diffraction
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment, comprising:
- a crystal growing incubator having opposing first and second sides;
an X-ray system, comprising;
an X-ray source disposed adjacent to said first side of said crystal growing incubator, where said X-ray source is configured to irradiate crystalline material grown in said crystal growing incubator; and
an X-ray detector disposed adjacent to said second side of said crystal growing incubator, where said X-ray detector is configured to detect the presence of diffracted X-rays from crystalline material grown in said crystal growing incubator; and
such that in use, crystalline material grown in said incubator can be screened for suitability by said X-ray system, thereby, facilitating the increased reproducibility of successful crystal growth experiments.
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Abstract
The apparatus comprises a crystal growing incubator having opposing first and second sides. The apparatus also includes an X-ray system which comprises an X-ray source disposed adjacent to the first side of the crystal growing incubator and an X-ray detector disposed adjacent to the second side of the crystal growing incubator. The X-ray source is configured to irradiate crystalline material grown in the crystal growing incubator and the X-ray detector is configured to detect the presence of diffracted X-rays from crystals grown in the crystal growing incubator. The apparatus preferably further comprises a positioner that positions the incubator and the X-ray system relative to each other. Also provided is a method of screening for crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment using the above described apparatus.
157 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment, comprising:
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a crystal growing incubator having opposing first and second sides;
an X-ray system, comprising;
an X-ray source disposed adjacent to said first side of said crystal growing incubator, where said X-ray source is configured to irradiate crystalline material grown in said crystal growing incubator; and
an X-ray detector disposed adjacent to said second side of said crystal growing incubator, where said X-ray detector is configured to detect the presence of diffracted X-rays from crystalline material grown in said crystal growing incubator; and
such that in use, crystalline material grown in said incubator can be screened for suitability by said X-ray system, thereby, facilitating the increased reproducibility of successful crystal growth experiments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of screening for crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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irradiating crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment with an X-ray beam;
detecting a diffraction pattern from said crystalline material; and
screening said crystalline material for suitability based on said diffraction pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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25. A method of screening for crystalline material in its in-situ growth environment, said method comprising the steps of:
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growing crystalline material in a crystal growing incubator;
placing said crystal growing incubator into a positioner;
determining the presence of said crystalline material in said crystal growing incubator;
ascertaining the location of said crystalline material in said crystal growing incubator;
storing the location of said crystalline material;
positioning said crystal growing incubator and an X-ray source relative to each another based on the location of said crystalline material, such that an X-ray beam emitted from said X-ray source accurately aligns with said crystalline material;
irradiating said crystalline material with said X-ray beam;
detecting with a X-ray detector, a diffraction pattern from said crystalline material; and
screening said crystalline material for suitability based on said diffraction pattern.
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Specification