KOCHI: A Single Crystal XRay Diffractometer (SC XRD) has been installed at the Sophisticated Test and Instrumentation Centre at Cusat.
The instrument was formally switched on by C T S Nair, executive vicepresident, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, in the presence of ViceChancellor Ramachandran Thekkedath, and the Governing Council members and staff of STIC on Thursday.
The instrument is the first of its kind to become operational in the state. The instrument is capable of solving crystal structures of all kinds, including complex structures. It has the latest technical features and is driven by the mostadvanced software.
This is a 4axis machine, which is the fourth of its kind to become operational anywhere in India. The instrument in STIC is imported from Germany (Bruker Make, Kappa Apex II). The total cost of the instrument is `1.6 crore.
The funds to procure the instrument was provided by the Department of Science and Technology under the SAIF (Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility) Programme. Researchers can now make use of this facility.