The X-ray Center of TU Wien is a central facility of the university, in which research infrastructure and expert knowledge for the analysis of crystalline and semi-crystalline materials are made centrally available to university members. On the one hand, X-ray spectroscopic methods are used to quantitatively analyze the chemical composition of materials down to the ppm range (parts per million) and for some elements down to the ppb range (parts per billion). On the other hand, the crystallographic structure of inorganic and organic materials is determined on the basis of the crystalline order of the materials using X-ray diffraction methods.
The intern will be involved in a project to check the calibrations for an X-ray spectrometer. For this purpose, various metal oxide samples are prepared as pure substances using different preparation methods and the X-ray fluorescence radiation (XRF) is then measured. The spectra are evaluated using quantification programs and the results for the different preparation methods are compared. As a second series of samples, different metal oxides are mixed in varying proportions and the RFS is measured again. After evaluating the spectra, the results for the different preparation methods are compared. The results are presented in the form of graphs and tables and presented together with the method background as part of a presentation in the group seminar. The results are then summarized in a practical report.
The work program includes:
-Literature work on the methodology broken down to the student's level of knowledge under the guidance of the research supervisor; incorporation into the practical report
-Exact weighing and, if necessary, mixing of the metal oxide samples
-Preparation of the samples for X-ray analysis in cooperation with the research supervisor (preparation of powder tablets or melting beads); sample set-up on the device and carrying out the tests using X-rays on the full protection device; evaluation of the results under supervision; summary of the results and inclusion in the practical report.
