GeoSoilEnviroCARS, the University of Chicago, at the Advanced Photon Source invites you to attend a half-day online workshop entitled:

Virtual Tutorial on Crystal Truncation Rod Diffraction for Atomic-Scale Surface Structure Measurement

Metal oxide surfaces mediate reactions that control the chemistry of natural waters, battery technologies, catalysis, nuclear fuels, and numerous other natural and engineered systems.  Molecular-level measurements of interfacial structures are essential to developing accurate models of natural phenomena and optimizing technologies.  However, many available techniques rely on ultra-high vacuum environments, precluding measurements under realistic conditions.  In contrast, crystal truncation rod (CTR) diffraction can be conducted in complex environments including gases, liquids, and hazardous material containments. The technique reveals atomic-scale interfacial structures, relaxations, and adsorbate positions on single-crystal surfaces and at buried interfaces.   During this virtual “hands-on” workshop we will demonstrate all aspects to CTR data collection and analysis. Participants will have the opportunity to “walk” into the experimental station with us and observe firsthand how we mount, align, and measure the surface of a metal-oxide crystal.  As the data rolls in we will perform real-time data reduction followed by quantitative fitting of the collected CTR data leading to a model that reveals the interface’s atomic relaxations and structural perturbations driven by interfacial chemistry.

  • Date: March 31, 2021

  • Time: 1-5PM, Central Time

  • Instructors: Joanne E. Stubbs and Peter J. Eng

 Tentative Schedule

1:00

Introduction to beamline

1:20

Introduction to crystal truncation rods

1:40

Overview of data collection process

2:00

Break

2:10

Collect CTR data from hematite sample

3:10

Break

3:20

Data integration

3:40

Fit structural model to data

4:30

Discussion

5:00

End

 

If you have any questions, please contact Joanne Stubbs at stubbs@cars.uchicago.edu