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Electron crystallography
1Electron Diffraction Department, Hauptman-Woodward Institute, Buffalo, NY 14203-1196, USA. dorset@hwi.buffalo.edu
Acta Crystallographica. Section B, Structural Science
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Direct phasing techniques now enable solving unknown crystal structures using electron crystallography. This method is effective for microcrystalline specimens when other techniques are not feasible.
Area of Science:
- Crystallography
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- Electron crystallography has a 60-year history with ongoing debate regarding ab initio structure determination.
- Solving crystal structures from electron diffraction data has been challenging due to scattering perturbations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of ab initio crystal structure determination using modern direct phasing techniques in electron crystallography.
- To affirm that controlled experimental parameters can yield quasi-kinematical data suitable for structure solving.
Main Methods:
- Application of direct phasing techniques, commonly used in X-ray crystallography.
- Collection of quasi-kinematical electron diffraction intensity data.
- Analysis of high-resolution electron micrographs.
Main Results:
- Direct phasing techniques have decisively proven the possibility of ab initio structure determination in electron crystallography.
- Experimental parameters can be controlled to obtain suitable data from diverse specimens.
- Successful applications demonstrated for small organics, proteins, and inorganic materials.
Conclusions:
- Ab initio crystal structure determination using electron crystallography is now a proven possibility.
- Electron crystallography is a valuable method for microcrystalline specimens where other techniques fail.
- While not optimal for precise bonding parameters, it offers a unique solution for structure determination.