scholarly journals Low-Zpolymer sample supports for fixed-target serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1072-1079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey K. Feld ◽  
Michael Heymann ◽  
W. Henry Benner ◽  
Tommaso Pardini ◽  
Ching-Ju Tsai ◽  
...  

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) offer a new avenue to the structural probing of complex materials, including biomolecules. Delivery of precious sample to the XFEL beam is a key consideration, as the sample of interest must be serially replaced after each destructive pulse. The fixed-target approach to sample delivery involves depositing samples on a thin-film support and subsequent serial introductionviaa translating stage. Some classes of biological materials, including two-dimensional protein crystals, must be introduced on fixed-target supports, as they require a flat surface to prevent sample wrinkling. A series of wafer and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-style grid supports constructed of low-Zplastic have been custom-designed and produced. Aluminium TEM grid holders were engineered, capable of delivering up to 20 different conventional or plastic TEM grids using fixed-target stages available at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). As proof-of-principle, X-ray diffraction has been demonstrated from two-dimensional crystals of bacteriorhodopsin and three-dimensional crystals of anthrax toxin protective antigen mounted on these supports at the LCLS. The benefits and limitations of these low-Zfixed-target supports are discussed; it is the authors' belief that they represent a viable and efficient alternative to previously reported fixed-target supports for conducting diffraction studies with XFELs.

IUCrJ ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Frank ◽  
David B. Carlson ◽  
Mark S. Hunter ◽  
Garth J. Williams ◽  
Marc Messerschmidt ◽  
...  

X-ray diffraction patterns from two-dimensional (2-D) protein crystals obtained using femtosecond X-ray pulses from an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) are presented. To date, it has not been possible to acquire transmission X-ray diffraction patterns from individual 2-D protein crystals due to radiation damage. However, the intense and ultrafast pulses generated by an XFEL permit a new method of collecting diffraction data before the sample is destroyed. Utilizing a diffract-before-destroy approach at the Linac Coherent Light Source, Bragg diffraction was acquired to better than 8.5 Å resolution for two different 2-D protein crystal samples each less than 10 nm thick and maintained at room temperature. These proof-of-principle results show promise for structural analysis of both soluble and membrane proteins arranged as 2-D crystals without requiring cryogenic conditions or the formation of three-dimensional crystals.


2012 ◽  
Vol 600 ◽  
pp. 174-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Fei Xia ◽  
Zong Hua Wang ◽  
Yan Zhi Xia ◽  
Fei Fei Zhang ◽  
Fu Qiang Zhu ◽  
...  

Zirconia-graphene composite (ZrO2-G) has been successfully synthesized via decomposition of ZrOCl2•6H2O in a water-isopropanol system with dispersed graphene oxide (GO) utilizing Na2S as a precursor could enable the occurrence of the deposition of Zr4+ and the deoxygenation of GO at the same time. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterize the samples. It was found that graphene were fully coated with ZrO2, and the ZrO2 existing in tetragonal phase, which resulted in the formation of two-dimensional composite.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Ye ◽  
Da Yin ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Qingwen Zhang

We report the synthesis of three-dimensional Fe3O4/graphene aerogels (GAs) and their application for the removal of arsenic (As) ions from water. The morphology and properties of Fe3O4/GAs have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum inference device. The 3D nanostructure shows that iron oxide nanoparticles are decorated on graphene with an interconnected network structure. It is found that Fe3O4/GAs own a capacity of As(V) ions adsorption up to 40.048 mg/g due to their remarkable 3D structure and existence of magnetic Fe3O4nanoparticles for separation. The adsorption isotherm matches well with the Langmuir model and kinetic analysis suggests that the adsorption process is pseudo-second-ordered. In addition to the excellent adsorption capability, Fe3O4/GAs can be easily and effectively separated from water, indicating potential applications in water treatment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1647) ◽  
pp. 20130500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Pedrini ◽  
Ching-Ju Tsai ◽  
Guido Capitani ◽  
Celestino Padeste ◽  
Mark S. Hunter ◽  
...  

Membrane proteins arranged as two-dimensional crystals in the lipid environment provide close-to-physiological structural information, which is essential for understanding the molecular mechanisms of protein function. Previously, X-ray diffraction from individual two-dimensional crystals did not represent a suitable investigational tool because of radiation damage. The recent availability of ultrashort pulses from X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) has now provided a means to outrun the damage. Here, we report on measurements performed at the Linac Coherent Light Source XFEL on bacteriorhodopsin two-dimensional crystals mounted on a solid support and kept at room temperature. By merging data from about a dozen single crystal diffraction images, we unambiguously identified the diffraction peaks to a resolution of 7 Å, thus improving the observable resolution with respect to that achievable from a single pattern alone. This indicates that a larger dataset will allow for reliable quantification of peak intensities, and in turn a corresponding increase in the resolution. The presented results pave the way for further XFEL studies on two-dimensional crystals, which may include pump–probe experiments at subpicosecond time resolution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 1024-1033
Author(s):  
Fang-Hua Zhao ◽  
Shi-Yao Li ◽  
Wen-Yu Guo ◽  
Zi-Hao Zhao ◽  
Xiao-Wen Guo ◽  
...  

Two new CdII MOFs, namely, two-dimensional (2D) poly[[[μ2-1,4-bis(1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)butane](μ2-heptanedioato)cadmium(II)] tetrahydrate], {[Cd(C7H10O4)(C18H18N4)]·4H2O} n or {[Cd(Pim)(bbimb)]·4H2O} n (1), and 2D poly[diaqua[μ2-1,4-bis(1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)butane](μ4-decanedioato)(μ2-decanedioato)dicadmium(II)], [Cd2(C10H16O4)2(C18H18N4)(H2O)2] n or [Cd(Seb)(bbimb)0.5(H2O)] n (2), have been synthesized hydrothermally based on the 1,4-bis(1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)butane (bbimb) and pimelate (Pim2−, heptanedioate) or sebacate (Seb2−, decanedioate) ligands. Both MOFs were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In 1, the CdII centres are connected by bbimb and Pim2− ligands to generate a 2D sql layer structure with an octameric (H2O)8 water cluster. The 2D layers are further connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure. In 2, the CdII centres are coordinated by Seb2− ligands to form binuclear Cd2 units which are linked by bbimb and Seb2− ligands into a 2D hxl layer. The 2D layers are further connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds, leading to an 8-connected 3D hex supramolecular network. IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and solid-state photoluminescence analysis were carried out on both MOFs. Luminescence sensing experiments reveal that both MOFs have good selective sensing towards Fe3+ in aqueous solution.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 2099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama Saber ◽  
Abdullah Aljaafari ◽  
Sarah Asiri ◽  
Khalid Batoo

The present study has a dual aim of supporting magnetic nanoparticles over the nanolayers of LDHs and designing two-dimensional magnetic nano-nets of cobalt ferrite. In this trend, nanoparticles of CoFe2O4 were prepared and supported by Co-Fe LDH through urea hydrolysis. The nanolayered structures of Co-Fe LDH were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, FT-IR spectra, thermal analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, they indicated that 13.2% CoFe2O4 were supported over Co-Fe LDH. Transformation of the nanolayered structures of Co-Fe LDH to nano-nets was achieved by the catalytic effect of the supported CoFe2O4 nanoparticles through solvent thermal technique. X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscopy images confirmed the transformation of the supported Co-Fe LDH to nano-nets of cobalt ferrite. In order to indicate the effect of the LDH for designing the nano-nets, nanoparticles of cobalt ferrite were prepared by the same technique without LDH. The magnetic behavior of the nano-nets and the supported Co-Fe LDH were measured and compared with the nanoparticles through vibrating sample magnetometer technique. The magnetic parameters indicated that the prepared nano-nets have ferromagnetic behavior and high coercivity. However, the prepared nanoparticles revealed a superparamagnetic state and low coercivity. The experimental results concluded that the incorporation of nanoparticles with nanowires into nano-net structures has been found to be an efficient way to improve their magnetic properties and prevent their agglomerations. Finally, layered double hydroxides are an important source for constructing magnetic nanolayered structures and nano-nets.


1996 ◽  
Vol 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.P. Piotrowski ◽  
S.R. Stock ◽  
A. Guvenilir ◽  
J.D. Haase ◽  
Z.U. Rek

AbstractIn order to understand the macroscopic response of polycrystalline structural materials to loading, it is frequently essential to know the spatial distribution of strain as well as the variation of micro-texture on the scale of 100 μm. The methods must be nondestructive, however, if the three-dimensional evolution of strain is to be studied. This paper describes an approach to high resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction tomography of polycrystalline materials. Results from model samples of randomly-packed, millimeter-sized pieces of Si wafers and of similarly sized single-crystal Al blocks have been obtained which indicate that polychromatic beams collimated to 30 μm diameter can be used to determine the depth of diffracting volume elements within ± 70 μm. The variation in the two-dimensional distribution of diffracted intensity with changing sample to detector separation is recorded on image storage plates and used to infer the depth of diffracting volume elements.


Author(s):  
Jinlong Yu ◽  
Frederik Søndergaard-Pedersen ◽  
Aref Mamakhel ◽  
Paolo Lamagni ◽  
Bo Brummerstedt Iversen

Anatase TiO2 (a-TiO2) nanocrystals are vital in catalytic applications both as catalysts (e.g. photodegradation) and as a carrier material (e.g. NOx removal from exhaust). The synthesis of a-TiO2 nanocrystals and their properties have been heavily scrutinized, but there exists a clear gap between the scientific literature, and the scale and price expectation of industrial application. Here it is demonstrated that the industrially most attractive Ti precursor, titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4), can be combined with the green, scalable and fast supercritical flow method to produce phase pure and highly crystalline a-TiO2 nanoparticles with high specific surface area. Control of the nanocrystal morphology is important since it is known that certain facets substantially promote catalytic activity. It is, however, in itself challenging to determine nanocrystal morphology to provide a rational basis for the synthesis control. Here we advocate the use of advanced Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction data including anisotropic size broadening models in aiding to establish the sample three-dimensional morphology. This relatively quick and robust method assists in overcoming the often encountered ambiguity inherent in two-dimensional to three-dimensional reconstruction of selected particle morphologies with transmission electron microscopy and tomography techniques.


Author(s):  
Mwaffak Rukiah ◽  
Thaer Assaad

The title two-dimensional coordination polymer, [Na(C2H8NO6P2)]n, was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction data and its structure refined using the Rietveld method. The asymmetric unit contains one Na+cation and one (1-azaniumylethane-1,1-diyl)bis(hydrogen phosphonate) anion. The central Na+cation exhibits distorted octahedral coordination geometry involving two deprotonated O atoms, two hydroxy O atoms and two double-bonded O atoms of the bisphosphonate anion. Pairs of sodium-centred octahedra share edges and the pairs are in turn connected to each other by the biphosphonate anion to form a two-dimensional network parallel to the (001) plane. The polymeric layers are connected by strong O—H...O hydrogen bonding between the hydroxy group and one of the free O atoms of the bisphosphonate anion to generate a three-dimensional network. Further stabilization of the crystal structure is achived by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonding.<!?tpb=18.7pt>


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document