X'Pert³ is now a Smart Instrument!. Find out more

Find out more

X'Pert³ MRD

Versatile research & development XRD system

The long and successful history of Malvern Panalytical's Materials Research Diffractometers (MRD) continues with a new generation – X’Pert³ MRD and X’Pert³ MRD XL. The improved performance and reliability of the new platform have added more analytical capability and power for X-ray scattering studies in: 

• advanced materials science 
• scientific and industrial thin film technology 
• metrological characterization in semiconductor process development

Both systems handle the same wide range of applications with full wafer mapping up to 100 mm (X’Pert³ MRD) or 200 mm (X’Pert³ MRD XL).

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Features

Future-proof system flexibility

The X'Pert³ MRD systems offer advanced and innovative X-ray diffraction solutions from research to process development and process control. The used technologies make all systems field upgradable to all existing options and new developments in hardware and software to come.

X’Pert³ MRD

The standard research and development version for use with thin film samples, wafers (complete mapping up to 100 mm) and solid materials. High-resolution analysis capability is improved by the outstanding accuracy of a new high-resolution goniometer using Heidenhain encoders. 

X'Pert³ MRD XL

The X'Pert³ MRD XL meets all the high-resolution XRD analysis requirements of the semiconductors, thin films, and advanced materials industries. Complete wafer mapping up to 200 mm is possible. The X’Pert3 version comes with longest liftetime of incident beam components (CRISP) and maximum uptime with pneumatic shutters and beam attenuators. 

By facilitating analysis of wafers of up to 300 mm in diameter, with a sophisticated, automatic wafer loader option, the X'Pert³ MRD XL becomes an advanced tool for quality control of industrial thin layered structures.

X'Pert³ Extended MRD (XL)

The X'Pert³ Extended MRD (XL) brings increased versatility to the range of X'Pert³ MRD systems. An extra PreFIX mounting platform allows mounting of an X-ray mirror and a high-resolution monochromator in-line, increasing significantly the intensity of the incident beam. 

One can benefit from increased application versatility without compromise on data quality, high-resolution X-ray diffraction with high intensities, shorter measurement times for measurements such as reciprocal space mapping and rebuild from standard to extended configuration in minutes thanks to the PreFIX concept. With the 2nd generation PreFIX, reconfiguring is easy and optics positioning is more accurate than ever.

X'Pert³ MRD (XL) In-plane

With the X'Pert³ MRD (XL) system for in-plane diffraction, it becomes possible to measure diffraction from lattice planes that are perpendicular to the sample surface. 

Standard and in-plane geometries on one system and a wide range of diffraction experiments on polycrystalline and highly perfect thin films, are just two of many benefits. 

Download the brochure: Semiconductor wafers - Crystalline quality

Smart Manager

Unleash the potential of your data

Until now, instrument data has too often been stuck in manual records, spreadsheets or site-specific servers. By connecting the X'Pert3 MRD to our Smart Manager and continually analyzing instrument data in the cloud, you can unleash its full potential. This is just one of our digital solutions that are part of Malvern Panalytical's Smart Manager.

Specification

Enclosure
Dimensions 1370 (w) x 1131 (d) x 1947 (h) mm
System is on wheels for easy installation and relocation
Weight 1150 kg
Regulations Meets all relevant worldwide regulations for electrical, mechanical and X-ray safety, with all anode types
Goniometer
Type Horizontal goniometer
Radius 320 mm
Maximum usable range -40°< 2θ <160° (depending on accessories)
Encoders Direct optical encoding system for lifetime goniometer accuracy, using precisely aligned Heidenhain encoders
Long range accuracy ±0.0025°
Short range (0.5°) accuracy  ±0.0004° 
Angular reproducibility < 0.0002°
X-ray source/ Detectors/ Stages
Notes
  • Fully ceramic X-ray tubes manufactured by Malvern Panalytical’s specialized factory under cleanroom conditions
  • Tool free swap of line to point focus
  • 3 kW generator supporting all current and future X-ray tubes
  • Hybrid pixel detectors with smallest pixel size (55 x 55 µm2) available on the market
  • 5-axes cradle with 100 x 100 mm2 x, y translation
Chi rotation ±92°
Phi rotation 2 x 360°
Smallest increment 0.0001°

Accessories

Detectors

PIXcel3D

The first detector to bring 0D-1D-2D and 3D data to your diffractometer

The PIXcel3D is a unique 2D solid-state hybrid pixel detector. Each pixel is 55 microns x 55 microns and the detector array is 256 x 256 pixels. The detector, now based on Medipix3 technology, brings unrivalled signal to noise with its point spread function of one pixel and multiple energy discrimination levels.

Services

Solutions to maximize the return 
on your investment

To assure that your instrument remains in top condition and performs on 
the highest level, Malvern Panalytical offers a wide range of services. Our Expertise 
and support services assure an optimal functioning of your instrument.

Support

Service for a lifetime
• Phone and remote support 
• Preventive maintenance and checkups 
• Flexible Customer Care Agreements 
• Performance certificates 
• Hardware and software upgrades 
• Local and global support

Expertise

Adding value to your processes
• Sample preparation development/optimization 
• Analytical methodologies 
• Turnkey solutions for XRD 
• Operations via IQ/OQ/PQ, quality assurance (GLP, ISO17025) or round robins/inter laboratory studies 
• Automation of lab processes 
• Consultancy services

Training and education

• Training on-site or at our competence centers 
• Broad range of basic and advanced courses on products, applications and software

Key applications

The Malvern Panalytical X’Pert³ MRD and MRD XL are all-in-one X-ray solution systems that can be used in many industry applications, including:

Semiconductors and single crystal wafers

Whether for growth studies or device design, the measurement of layer quality, thickness, strain and alloy composition using high-resolution XRD has been at the heart of research and development in electronic and optoelectronic multilayer semiconductor devices.  With a choice of X-ray mirrors, monochromators and detectors, the X’Pert3 MRD and MRD XL offer high-resolution configurations to suit different materials systems ranging from lattice matched semiconductors, through relaxed buffer layers on to novel exotic layers on non-standard substrates

Polycrystalline solids and thin films

Polycrystalline layers and coatings are an important component of many thin films and multilayer devices. The evolution of polycrystalline layer morphology during deposition is a key study area in functional materials research and development.  X’Pert3 MRD and X’Pert3 MRD XL can be fully equipped with a range of slits, parallel beam X-ray mirror, polycapillary lens, crossed slits and monocapillaries to give the full choice of incident beam optics for reflectometry, stress, texture and phase ID.

Ultra-thin films, nanomaterials and amorphous layers

Functional devices may contain disordered, amorphous or nanocomposite thin films. The flexibility of the X’Pert3 MRD and MRD XL systems allow for the incorporation of multiple analytical methods. A range of high-resolution optics, slits and parallel plate collimators are available to give the optimum performance for grazing incidence methods, in-plane diffraction and reflectometry.

Measurement under non-ambient conditions

Studying the behavior of materials under a variety of conditions is an essential part of materials research and process development.  The X’Pert3 MRD and MRD XL are designed for the easy incorporation of the DHS1100 non-ambient sample stage from Anton Paar, enabling automated measurementsunder a range of temperatures and inert atmosphere

Instrument gives excellent accuracy and is of good quality.Good intensity and rapid performance. It is easy to operate.

Yifan Zheng — Zhejiang University of Technology
The future of thin film analysis.

The future of thin film analysis.

Versatile XRD system for research & development. A new generation of tools for your wafer analysis.

Request a quote Request a demo Contact sales