This one-semester course will focus on the modern applications of X-ray diffraction techniques in crystal and molecular structure determination. As such, it is intended for a wide audience, including the graduate students of chemistry, physics, materials science, and chemical engineering. The course may also be useful to the students of several graduate programs at the UVA School of Medicine. It will be based on the excellent textbook “Crystal Structure Determination” by Werner Massa, 2nd Edition, Springer 2004. The following topics will be covered:
- X-Rays and Their Interaction with Matter
- The Geometry of X-Ray Diffraction
- Crystal Symmetry
- Experimental Methods
- Structure Solution
- Structure Refinement
- Interpretation and Presentation of Results
- Errors and Pitfalls
- Crystallographic Databases
A Bruker APEXII single-crystal CCD diffractometer will be available through the Nanoscale Materials Characterization Facility (NMCF) in the Materials Science and Engineering Department. The instrumentation should provide an excellent opportunity for gaining hands-on experience and learning the practical aspects of modern X-ray diffraction methods. It is expected that each student in the class will participate in at least two full structure determination experiments.
