Speaker
Description
Time-resolved X-ray crystallography using serial approaches has received increasing attention in recent years, not only at XFELs but also at synchrotron facilities. Beamline I24 at Diamond Light Source (UK) has been at the forefront of developments in instrumentation, data collection strategies and data processing, lowering the entry barrier to a wider user community. Although originally designed for conventional microfocus MX, I24 has evolved into a versatile beamline that supports serial approaches and multiple modes of room-temperature data collection. Currently, the beamline features a modular sample environment with a plug-and-play design, enabling pin-based cryo MX and serial experiments to be performed within the same shift, with changeover requiring only a few minutes. Serial experiments can be carried out on thin film arrays, fixed targets [1] or using a high viscosity extruder. Several methods for reaction initiation, including light activation, drop-on-chip mixing and the use of photocages, have been successfully applied to initiate reactions in micro-crystalline slurries for dynamic studies.
Recent developments on I24 will be presented including optimisation of fixed-targets for time-resolved SSX (and SFX [2]) on challenging targets requiring anaerobic or dark conditions, exploring the advantages of high energy data collection, new detectors, and complementary spectroscopic methods. Case studies demonstrating the use of nitric oxide [3] and oxygen [4] photocages for efficiently initiating time-dependent reactions will also be discussed.
[1] Owen, R. L., et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. D, 73, 373-378.
[2] Sherrell, D. A., et al. (2015). J. Synchrotron. Radiat., 22, 1372-1378.
[3] Smyth, P., et al. (2025). IUCrJ, 12, 582-594.
[4] Jaho, S., et al. (2026). bioRxiv, 2026.08. 10.743912
