EPSRC grant announced January 2008

Almost £400,000 for new X-ray crystallography facilities and operation at Newcastle School of Natural Sciences (Chemistry)

We are currently investigating possible diffractometer systems and associated accessories and software and expect installation in the summer.

This equipment will replace our 1994 vintage Bruker (formerly Siemens) SMART 1K system (the oldest in the world) and will operate alongside an existing Nonius KappaCCD machine.

Both diffractometers will collect data routinely at low temperature (Oxford Cryostream systems; the grant includes a new Cryostream to replace Serial Number 3, which is still in use although it it technically obsolete.  We expect to be using both Mo and Cu radiation in some combination, but details are yet to be decided.

The grant covers new equipment, consumables, maintenance and some research staff support as well as standard FEC components, and runs for two years (to 2010).