Photon III detector for single crystal X-ray diffraction

X射线衍射是测定固体结构的最重要的技术之一。它提供了以高精度阐明分子连接性和几何形状的能力，范围从小分子到纳米尺寸的颗粒和生物分子。对于材料科学家来说，晶体学研究提供了对固态结构和物理性质之间相互作用的理解，这是设计新功能材料的基础。在生物化学中，蛋白质晶体学不仅提供了对蛋白质活性位点的见解，而且还提供了决定每个蛋白质独特形状和功能的二级和三级结构。温莎大学（UW）的化学和生物化学系对X射线晶体学具有浓厚的兴趣，用于（i）确定用于绿色能量转换的下一代催化剂的结构;（ii）开发结构随温度或压强而变化的新型响应材料，从而导致其物理性质的变化（iii）发展新一代的纳米机器，使固态分子的运动可以受到控制和操纵;（iv）阐明蛋白质结构和功能之间的相互关系。 近年来，UW在化学和生物化学领域进行了多项战略性教师任命，所有这些都在很大程度上依赖于使用单晶X射线衍射（SC-XRD）作为其研究的关键工具。SC-XRD是六名申请人和另外三个“频繁用户”群体的主要表征技术，这些群体共同构成了我们目前持有三理事会资金的教师的47%。我们的单晶X射线衍射仪的探测器发生灾难性故障（2021年8月），基本上阻碍了许多研究小组的关键研究进展。制造商已经确定，目前的探测器无法修复，本提案寻求资金购买新的探测器，以支持所有这些群体的研究计划和HQP培训。所要求的设备是最先进的第四代电荷积分像素阵列探测器（CPAD），可完全集成到我们现有的布鲁克D8 Venture系统中，以取代过时且无法修复的Photon 100探测器。CPAD具有更大的“窗口”，也将促进结构的更快吞吐量，同时减少视差和提高信噪比，再加上我们现有的高强度铜微源，将更好地支持我们两名蛋白质晶体学家的研究进行必要的筛选蛋白质晶体的“内部”。最重要的是，这种替代检测器对于我们在UW化学与生物化学系的大部分研究项目的持续成功至关重要。

X-ray diffraction is one of the single most important techniques in structure determination in the solid state. It provides the ability to elucidate molecular connectivity and geometry with a high degree of precision, ranging from small molecules through to nano-sized particles and biomolecules. For materials scientists, crystallographic studies provide an understanding of the interplay between solid state structure and physical properties is fundamental to the design of new functional materials. In biochemistry protein crystallography provides insights not only into the active site of the protein but also the secondary and tertiary structure which dictate the unique shape and function of each protein. The Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Windsor (UW) has a strong interest in X-ray crystallography for (i) the determination of the structure of the next generation of catalysts for green energy conversion; (ii) developing new responsive materials whose structure changes as a function of temperature or pressure, leading to changes in their physical properties (magnetic, conducting or optical) or for controlled drug release; (iii) to develop next generation nano-machines in which molecular motion in the solid state can be controlled and manipulated;(iv) elucidating the inter-relationship between protein structure and function. UW has made multiple strategic faculty appointments in the area of chemistry and biochemistry in recent years, all of which rely heavily on the use of single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) as a key instrumental tool for their research. SC-XRD is a primary characterization technique for the groups of the six applicants and an additional three 'frequent user' groups who, collectively, make up 47% of our current faculty holding tri-council funding. A catastrophic detector failure (Aug 2021) of the detector for our single crystal X-ray diffractometer has essentially stalled key research progress for many these research groups. The manufacturer has identified that the current detector cannot be repaired and this proposal seeks funding for the purchase of a new detector to support the research programs and HQP training for all these groups. The equipment requested is a state-of-the-art, 4th generation charge integrating pixel array detector (CPAD) which can be fully integrated into our existing Bruker D8 Venture system to replace the obsolete and irreparable Photon 100 detector. The CPAD has a larger 'window' will also facilitate faster throughput of structures, while reduced parallax and improved signal:noise ratio, coupled with our existing high intensity copper microsource, will better support the research of our two protein crystallographers to undertake essential screening of protein crystals 'in house'. Most importantly, this replacement detector is essential for the continued success of a large proportion of our research programs in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UW.