This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program grant supports acquisition on an x-ray diffractometer (XRD) equipped with scintillation and solid state x-ray detection systems, a parallel beam attachment (to permit crystallographic analysis of thin films), and a high temperature vacuum chamber for studies of the kinetics of phase changes over temperature ranges from 25 to 1600 degrees C. The XRD will immediately benefit the research and educational programs of five faculty members across the departments of Geoscience, Forestry, Pharmacy, Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Kentucky (UK). Faculty and students at UK and nearby regional institutions including Eastern Kentucky University, Western Kentucky University and Morehead State, will will gain access to the XRD for mineral phase identification in sediments, soils and aerosols, structural studies of nanoporous ceramics and thin films, and analysis of crystallization mechanisms of novel pharmaceuticals, to name a few. The XRD will be incorporated in multiple undergraduate and graduate courses requiring lab exercises and undergraduate students will be encouraged to take advantage of the XRD for independent research. ***
