Organic Crystal Laser Working with Cryogenic Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for working organic crystals, especially at low temperatures, face challenges such as damage from mechanical contact, temperature fluctuations, and inefficient precision due to the brittleness and softness of organic materials, which complicates X-ray crystal structure analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method using short-pulse laser light to work organic crystals at low temperatures, preventing temperature changes and minimizing heat damage, while maintaining the crystal in a frozen state to enhance precision and efficiency, and incorporating a cooling mechanism using low-temperature gases like nitrogen or helium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If mechanical working methods are used on organic crystals, then the crystal can be shaped and processed, but the crystal suffers damage such as cracking and splitting due to its softness and brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical working methods with laser working methods. The laser beam works on the crystal through optical energy rather than mechanical contact, eliminating the cracking and splitting caused by mechanical impact while still achieving the desired shaping and processing of the organic crystal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the working temperature parameter by cooling the organic crystal to low temperature (freezing state) before laser working. This parameter change increases the crystal's hardness and reduces brittleness, making it more resistant to damage during the working process while maintaining the ability to achieve precise shaping.
2Reliability
If organic crystals are cooled to low temperature for X-ray analysis, then radiation damage is prevented, but mechanical working becomes difficult due to the frozen state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical working methods with laser working methods that can be performed on frozen crystals. The laser beam can effectively work on the crystal in its frozen state without requiring temperature changes, thus maintaining the crystal's resistance to radiation damage while enabling necessary shaping and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the parameter change of cooling the crystal to low temperature, which transforms the crystal into a frozen state that is resistant to radiation damage. The laser working method is then applied to this frozen state, overcoming the previous limitation that mechanical working became difficult at low temperatures.
3Ease of manufacture
If temperature changes are applied during working, then the crystal can be processed, but the crystal structure undergoes irreversible alteration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the parameter change of cooling the crystal to low temperature before working, which increases the crystal's hardness and processability. The laser working is then performed on this cooled crystal, eliminating the need for subsequent temperature changes that would cause structural alteration, thus maintaining structural stability throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical working methods with laser working methods that can be performed on cooled crystals. This substitution allows the crystal to be processed in its cooled state without requiring temperature changes during working, preventing irreversible structural alteration while achieving the desired processing.
4Ease of operation
If laser working is performed on organic crystals at ordinary temperature, then the working process is simple, but heat damage occurs to the crystal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter by cooling the organic crystal to low temperature (freezing state) before laser working. This parameter change reduces the crystal's absorption of laser energy and minimizes heat generation, thereby preventing heat damage while maintaining a relatively simple working process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of laser-induced heating into a benefit by cooling the crystal beforehand. The cooled state reduces heat absorption during laser working, and the minimal heating that does occur is quickly dissipated by the cooling system, transforming the heat issue from a harmful effect to a manageable parameter.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise working of organic crystals without temperature-induced damage, improves working efficiency by stabilizing the crystal structure, and allows for quick observation without structural alteration, particularly effective for brittle materials like proteins and supramolecular complexes.
Implementation Method 1
a method for working an organic crystal by means of irradiation with short-pulse laser light
Implementation Method 2
irradiating the organic crystal with short-pulse laser light
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a cooling mechanism using low-temperature gases like nitrogen or helium
Implementation Method 4
maintaining the crystal in a frozen state
Data Source
AI summary
The short-pulse laser light 9 emitted from the short-pulse laser light source 1 is focused on and caused to irradiate an organic crystal 8 contained in a sample container 6 via a shutter 2, intensity adjusting element 3, irradiation position control mechanism 4, and focusing optical system 5. The sample container 6 is carried on a stage 7, and can be moved in three dimensions along the x axis, y axis and z axis in an x-y-z orthogonal coordinate system with the direction of the optical axis being taken as the z axis; furthermore, the sample container 6 can be rotated about the z axis. Working of the organic crystal 8 is performed by means of short-pulse laser light that is focused on and caused to irradiate the surface of the organic crystal 8. Prior to working, nitrogen is caused to jet onto the sample container 6 by a low-temperature gas jet device C that is a cooling device; consequently, the organic crystal 8 is cooled to −150° C. or below. As a result, it is possible to work the object of working in a fixed state, and to increase the working efficiency by means of the short-pulse laser light that is used.