Upgrade of a CCD detector for a single-crystal x-ray diffractometer

结构测定和解析是任何化学研究不可或缺的组成部分，因为它为理解分子化合物和材料的化学和物理性质/功能提供了关键信息。单晶X射线衍射仪是测定分子结构和固体结构的最终工具。 该提案旨在寻求资金，将已有7年历史的布鲁克AXS Smart 1000检测器升级为单晶X射线衍射仪的最先进的Apex II检测器，该检测器是皇后学院化学系约10个研究小组和70多名研究生和博士后研究员的关键研究设施。 升级涉及旧探测器的折价和新探测器的安装。这是因为需要将新安装的X射线衍射仪与兼容的检测器集成在一起，并且研究人员需要获得更好的衍射数据。通过旧CCD探测器进行升级的成本约为购买新探测器成本的1/4。新探测器的灵敏度将比旧探测器高出约10倍，这将使研究人员能够研究对于旧探测器来说太小或太弱的晶体，从而大大提高X射线衍射设备的能力。

Structure determination and elucidation are an integral and indispensable part of any chemical research because it provides critical information for understanding chemical and physical properties/functions of molecular compounds and materials. A single-crystal X-ray diffractometer is the ultimate tool for the determination of molecular structures and the structures of solids.  This proposal seeks funding to upgrade a 7-year old Bruker AXS Smart 1000 detector to a state-of-the-art Apex II detector of a single-crystal X-ray diffractometer that is a key research facility for about 10 research groups and more than 70 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Chemistry Department at Queen's.  The upgrade involves the trade-in of the old detector and the installation of the new detector. It is out of the necessity of integrating the newly installed X-ray diffractometer with a compatible detector and the need to achieve better diffraction data by researchers. The cost of this upgrade by trading in the old CCD detector is about 1/4 of the cost of purchasing a new detector. The new detector will have about 10 times higher sensitivity than the old detector which will enable researchers to investigate crystals that are too small or diffract too weakly for the old detector, hence drastically enhancing the capability of the X-ray diffraction facility.