We perform routine and non-routine small-molecule single-crystal X-ray structure determinations and X-ray powder diffraction analysis for a variety of samples. Small angle scattering techinque can be used to probe a broad range of particle sizes starting from a few nanometers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is utilized for analysis of the surface chemistry and X-ray Fluorescence is used for elemental analysis of bulk materials.

We also closely collaborate and conduct sophisticated X-ray scattering experiments at Advanced Photon Source (Argonne National Laboratory) or neutron scattering experiments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Spallation Neutron Source).

Co-authorship and Acknowledgment: Co-authorship guidelines that are outlined here are in accord with American Crystallographic Association regulations and with co-authorship policies accepted at the majority of laboratories and set forth by academic journals. These are are intended to help authors in manuscript preparation and to protect them from errors in professional presentation of crystallographic results.

  • The crystallographer should be considered for a co-authorship when the structural information represents a critical part of the intellectual content of the article and the structural information has been derived mainly from the diffraction data. The crystallographer can then further assist in the analysis, interpretation of the data, and preparation for publication. Additional guidance can be given in a form of in depth discussions of the metrical data, intra and intermolecular bonding interactions and/or crystal packing analysis.
  • If structure determination was used only to confirm information obtained by other means (NMR, MS, etc.) and no or little structural details will be given in the paper, only acknowledgment is appropriate and should be given to the professional staff who performed the crystallographic analysis. If a crystal structure is crystallographically interesting or novel, crystallographer may request to publish the crystal structure independently in a crystallographic journal after the original article is published as to not undermine the original paper.

BILLING CHARGES – Fees are valid for the University of Chicago users only; for external users, please contact the Director of X-ray Facilities

Single Crystal X-ray diffraction

Complete dataset acquisition:

  • Data collected/solved/refined by a user: $150
  • Data collected by a manager: $200
  • Data collected/solved/refined by a manager: $275
  • Hourly rate for collection of powder patterns, unit cell determinations, partial data sets etc: $40/h by user ($50 by a manager)
  • The cost of liquid nitrogen is included
X-ray powder diffraction
  • Hourly rate (user): $30 (SmartLab)/$20 (miniFlex)
  • Hourly rate (manager): $50 (SmartLab)/$40 (miniFlex)
Small angle X-ray scattering
  • Hourly rate (user): $42
  • Hourly rate (manager): $70
X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
  • Hourly rate (user): $42
  • Hourly rate (manager): $70
  • Time needed for samples evacuation and achieving of ultra high vacuum is not charged. Users are strongly encouraged to pre-dry their samples by keeping them under vacuum overnight to facilitate the evacuation process.
X-ray Fluorescence
  • Hourly rate (user): $20
  • Hourly rate (manager): $40