RSA diffraction station at Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source

The results of the development and putting into operation of the multipurpose RSA diffraction station at the Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source (KISI-Kurchatov) are presented. The RSA allows studying all types of crystalline objects, from simple inorganic compounds and small molecules to complex metal-organic frameworks and protein macromolecules. Its high intensity and low beam divergence make it possible to study crystals with linear dimensions of 5 µm. Among the most significant results already obtained at the RSA are the decipherment of the crystal structure of formamidinium iodide, a key precursor to hybrid perovskites in photovoltaics, and the study of new solvatomorphs of an anti-inflammatory drug, tenoxicam. An alternative method for solving the phase problem for protein crystals, based on the analysis of specific radiation damage to crystals, was successfully tested at the station, which significantly expanded the experimental possibilities for determining their structure.