11-BM News
Periodic news and updates about 11-BM and powder diffraction at the APS
11-BM Science: New “Gold Standard” Thermoelectric Materials August 2013
A team led by chemist Dr. Kirill Kovnir of the University of California at Davis, has discovered a new class of thermoelectric materials. The group reports that Ba8Au16P30, a host-guest compound in which barium ions are trapped inside large gold-phosphorus polyhedral cages, exhibits unprecedentedly low lattice thermal conductivity. High resolution powder diffraction data from the APS beamline 11-BM was used to establish the crystal structure of the new compound.
Images Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society
11-BM users publish more than 70 papers in 2012 April 2013
The success of 11-BM continues and is reflected by continued growth in the number of publications. In 2012 a new record was set (again!) for the total number of user publications in a year. 11-BM is now the most most productive APS-XSD division beamline, with many high impact quality publications incorporating 11-BM powder diffraction data! See a publications list here: More: http://www.aps.anl.gov/Xray_Science_Division/Structural_Science/publications_11BM.php#2012
11-BM users make “most cited articles” list for in 2011
Congratulations! An Applied Physics Letters (APL) publication by 11-BM users from the University of Florida (Jones Group) is on the “most cited articles” list for 2011. See http://librarians.aip.org/promote/emails/aplmostcitedWV.html?TRACK=APLMC2012.
This work uses high resolution data from 11-BM to examine the previously unknown monoclinic crystal structure of polycrystalline Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT), and important lead-free ferroelectric material for modern electronic devices.
Aksel et al, Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 152901 (2011); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3573826 (3 pages)
New Partnership for Complementary NPD & SXPD Access at DOE User Facilities November 2012
A new partnership between Argonne (ANL) and Oak Ridge (ORNL) National Laboratories will promote complementary synchrotron & neutron diffraction science. Approved ORNL Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) users of the POWGEN neutron powder diffraction (NPD) beamline may now obtain streamlined access to high-resolution synchrotron diffraction (SXPD) data on the same samples at beamline 11-BM of the Advanced Photon Source. Because of the distinct elemental sensitivity of x-ray and neutron probes in powder diffraction, many systems benefit enormously from a complementary study exploiting both. The combined analysis of these two datasets often can reveal subtle structural details and understanding far beyond that possible with a single measurement. Contact beamline staff [email protected] or [email protected] for more details.
11-BM Science: New Highly Transparent Polycrystalline Ceramics November 2012
A recent science highlight comes from a collaboration between the APS and CNRS laboratories at Orleans. The work demonstrates a new processing route and new chemistries for highly transparent polycrystalline ceramics. These materials play an important role as optical materials for lasers, scintillators, optical lenses or transparent armor. Traditional manufacturing typically requires slow and expensive single crystal growth, and/or high temperature & high pressure processing. By contrast, the novel atomic structure of these new materials (which was characterized using high-resolution diffraction at the APS beamline 11-BM) permits low temperature processing directly from a simple glass precursor which can be easily formed into large and complex shapes.
The work was published in Advanced Materials Volume 24, Issue 41, pages 5570–5575, and was featured recently featured as a highlight on the main CNRS (French equipment of the NSF) webpage (http://www.cnrs.fr/inc/communication/direct_labos/allix.htm)
Rapid Acquisition Powder Diffraction Program Relocates to Beamline 17-BM September 2012
The APS X-ray Science Division is pleased to announce an enhancement to powder diffraction capabilities at the Advanced Photon Source. Effective from the 2012-3 cycle, the rapid acquisition (or ‘area detector’) powder diffraction program, formerly at beamline 1-BM, has relocated to beamline 17-BM. More Details: http://www.aps.anl.gov/Users/Communications/User_News/2012/user_news_81.html#01
A side by side comparison of APS powder diffraction beamlines is here (.pdf)
New Streamlined Process for Rapid Access Proposals Summer 2012
The format of the proposal for mail-in rapid access measurement requests at 11-BM has been revised. The new format features a single abstract section, and is intended to expedite and simplify the process for everyone, including users, reviewers, and staff. Rapid access requests are now reviewed by staff AND a international committee of external experts; the target review time is ~ 1 week. Read more: http://11bm.xray.aps.anl.gov/GUPguide0.html
Prolific 11-BM users publish more than 50 papers in 2011 January 2012
Thanks to the hard work of beamline staff and users, 11-BM's growing user community sets a new record for the total number of user publications in a year. 11-BM is becoming one of the most productive APS instruments, with many high impact quality publications incorporating 11-BM powder diffraction data! Learn More: http://www.aps.anl.gov/Xray_Science_Division/Structural_Science/publications_11BM.php
Beamline Videos on 11-BM YouTube Channel Fall 2011
11-BM launches a YouTube channel. Tune in for videos highlighting the instrument, and 'how-to' videos on sample preparation and related relevant topics. See: http://www.youtube.com/user/s11bm/videos
