Dr. David Walker runs the X-ray diffraction facility at the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK, supporting more than 100 users from physics, chemistry, and engineering. With Anton Paar’s XRDynamic 500, the facility performs high-resolution structural analysis of diverse materials, including battery materials, solar cells, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and metal-organic frameworks.
Advanced X-ray diffraction at the University of Warwick
Led by Dr. David Walker, the X-ray diffraction facility at the University of Warwick in Coventry supports more than 100 users from a wide range of disciplines, including physics, chemistry, and engineering.
These researchers work on economically important materials such as battery materials, solar cells, pharmaceuticals, metal-organic frameworks, and catalysts, which requires flexible, reliable XRD technology that can handle a broad range of sample types and research questions.
Building on an existing Anton Paar relationship
Before purchasing XRDynamic 500, the University of Warwick were already using non-ambient stages such as the HTK 1200N and XRK 900 and had a long-standing relationship with Anton Paar. The new instrument allowed the facility to expand its capabilities, particularly through the use of cobalt radiation.
Flexible XRD for complex samples
XRDynamic 500 contributes to multidisciplinary work that may combine XRD with Raman spectroscopy, NMR, and electron microscopy. Its cobalt radiation capability is useful for iron-containing compounds, including many battery materials, that fluoresce strongly under the copper radiation typically used in XRD. It is also used frequently for air-sensitive samples, where the ease of changing between different stages supports efficient operation.
Supporting world-leading research
XRDynamic 500 plays an important role in Warwick’s materials research infrastructure, serving internal academic users and external projects through scientific services. Its flexibility helps the facility support a wide range of materials research, including work published in leading journals.
"Because of some of the unique features of the instrument, we really started using it for more and more."
Dr. David Walker - Head of the X-ray Diffraction Facility at the University of Warwick
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