ICIQ will have first ED electron diffractometer installed in 2023

ICIQ is proud to announce the acquisition of the first electron diffractometer conceived exclusively for the structural determination of molecules. Rigaku, a leader in developing crystallography solutions, will be installing the XtaLAB Synergy-ED after having won a competitive tender (EQC2021-006956-P)

This instrument will play a key role in ICIQ’s research: helping to resolve crystal structures of small organic molecules, organometallic complexes, MOFs, COFs, peptides, and big supramolecular entities that are encountered in most research branches in which they are involved.

Founded in 2000, ICIQ ranks in the top 10 research institutions in the world for chemistry. The addition of electron diffraction to their portfolio of analytical techniques will be an important enhancement that will help to improve the scientific contribution of the institution via many of its research groups. It will relieve bottlenecks in research workflows and industrial projects, where growing sufficiently sized crystals is otherwise problematic, thus, accelerating research outcomes as well as providing previously unobtainable results.

The Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy-ED is the world’s first turnkey electron diffractometer. Developed by Rigaku and JEOL, it allows crystallographers to push past the limits of single crystal XRD and even synchrotrons, allowing them to elucidate structures from crystals smaller than 50 nm in some cases what supposes to measure crystals 100000 times smaller than with X-ray.

Dr. Sho Ito (Rigaku), Dr. Eduardo C. Escudero-Adán, (responsible for the Materials Characterization Department of the ICIQ), Dr. Jordi Benet-Buchholz (responsible for the ICIQ Diffraction Unit) and Dr. Akihito Yamano (Rigaku)

When asked about why the ICIQ team chose the Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy-ED, Dr. Eduardo C. Escudero-Adán, Manager of the Characterization Technologies Department at ICIQ, said, “We have tested the instrument in situ. The feeling was that we were in front of a well-finished equipment that fulfills our expectations in relation to the technique”. Dr. Jordi Benet-Buchholz, Manager of the Diffraction Unit remarks that, “One of the most outstanding points is the good integration of the software with the equipment, that allows an easy handling of the equipment by the user. It also highlights the fact of having low temperature measurement systems that have proven to be crucial for measuring sensitive samples.”.

Dr. Mark Benson, General Manager, Global Sales and Marketing for Single Crystal for Rigaku, commented, “ICIQ already has Rigaku single crystal XRD systems so the transition to electron diffraction should be fairly trivial, given both systems use the same user-inspired CrystAlisPro software for instrument control and structural determination. We look forward to further supporting ICIQ in their research endeavors and seeing publications in the near future generated using this relatively new technology.”

For more information, you can visit the X-Ray Diffraction Unit facilities at ICIQ. as well as Rigaku website for more information of XtaLAB Synergy-ED electron diffractometer.

The equipment is part of the EQC2021-006956-P project, financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union “NextGenerationEU” PRTR