PoFuMat

At the Institut Lavoisier de Versailles, part of the research activities is dedicated to the development of a broad range of functional materials, including novel metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), MOF-based composites incorporating various components (polymers, oxides, polyoxometalates (POMs), enzymes, etc.), thiolate coordination polymers, as well as electronic and photovoltaic devices. The synthesis of these materials requires the careful modulation of numerous physicochemical parameters, such as the nature and concentration of precursors, temperature, pressure, and solvent, to optimize both their purity and microstructural features (crystallite size and shape, lattice strain, and defects). Powder X-ray diffraction is a key technique for optimizing the synthesis of materials with targeted structural, microstructural, and physicochemical properties. The PoFuMat project aims to acquire a user-friendly, environmentally low-impact benchtop X-ray diffractometer capable of analyzing crystalline powders, including materials with large unit-cell volumes, as well as shaped samples such as thin films (semiconductors, metals, etc.) and pellets. This diffractometer will be dedicated not only to research projects but also to the training of undergraduate and Master’s students.