We advance and implement X-ray crystallography for probing materials structures. We investigate fine structures on different length scales to obtain standard crystallographic, structural disorder and microstructural information. We study materials under electric, thermal and (in future) mechanical perturbation. We are currently focused on piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics but open for exploring any materials where the relationship between structure and properties are not yet understood.
1. Investigation of multidomain crystals using high-resolution X-ray diffraction
Domain is a finite volume of a crystal, where a physically
meaningful order parameter is uniform.
Domains and domain walls may mediate new physical properties, such as giant piezoelectricity or shape-memory effect.
We advance the methods of investigation of domains using
X-ray and neutron scattering inspecting domains from Bragg peaks splitting and track their response to external field.
2. Development of time resolved X-ray single crystal diffractometry
X-ray diffraction is the leading tool for the investigation of materials structures. Understanding the structure-properties relationship
relies on the ability of measure how the structure adapts to the external conditions. This adaptation might be e.g. distortion of the chemical bonds, macroscopic strains, variations in the microstructure / domain pattern.
For example application of electric field to a piezoelectric material induces macroscopic deformation, which can be
to the structural effect or domain wall motion. We develop data acquisition systems for synchronized collection of X-ray diffraction and application of external stimuli to a material (probing a device in action).
3. Crystallography of cleavage
Cleavage describes the tendency of a crystal to break easily along a specific lattice planes.
Acquiring the information about cleavage in a given crystal structure is essential for the investigation of key mechanical properties such as fracture toughness, plasticity and strength.
Although cleavage planes are commonly known for simple crystals (e.g. silicon), such information about arbitrary crystals is not available.
We develop an universal algorithm for
automatic inspection of crystal structures, and the prediction of likely cleavage planes in them. The algorithm is being implemented in the form of MATLAB program. The project is carried out in collaboration with Prof Dov Sherman and his brittle fracture laboratory .
24 August 2023
It was blissful to visit Australian Synchrotron today. Giving a presentation about our research there, having a personal tour to the beamlines. The last, but not least, exploring the South East suburbs of Melbourne and the area around Monash University.
28 June 2023
Performing experiment at the almighty Swiss-Norwegian beamlines at the European Synchrotron in Grenoble. All the eyes and ears are directed to Dmitry Chernyshov.
26 June 2023
On our way to Grenoble / France! One week long synchrotron experiment with a lot of X-ray photons, data and food is ahead! We are already starting with the last item of this list in the airport. The long way goes via Istanbul and Geneva!
20 May 2023
We are at SESAME (Alan, Jordan) today. After spending one day exploring the city of Amman, we are preparing for multi-temperature powder diffraction experiment at the MS beamline. Meanwhile enjoying cool weather, good views and (a lot of) food.
15 January 2021
Not really news, but the nice view of the lab! Red light is on, data collection is running.
Nobel Prize? Maybe tomorrow!
Research interests: X-ray crystallography, Fine structure and disorder in functional materials, Crystal physics, Ferroelectricity, Piezoelectrics, Synchrotron radiation.
Research interests: High-resolution X-ray diffraction, Phase transitions
Research interests: Birefringence microscopy, Ferroelectric materials, Imaging of domains
Research interests: Advanced electronic systems, Scientific instrumentation.
Research interests: X-ray and neutron powder diffraction.
C. Rösche, T. B. Ballaran, T. Malcherek, C. Paulmann, R. J. Angel, S. Gorfman, B. Mihailova
The high-pressure structure of (1-x) NaBi0.5Ti0.5O3 -x BaTiO3 at the morphotropic phase boundary
Scientific Reports, 14, 18799, (2024)
I. Biran, A. Bosak, Z.-G. Ye, I. Levin, S Gorfman
Lattice match between coexisting cubic and tetragonal phases in PMN-PT at the phase transition
Applied Physics Letters, 124, 242901, (2024)
I. Biran, S Gorfman
Permissible domain walls in monoclinic ferroelectrics. Part II. The case of MC phases
Acta Cryst A, 80, 293-304, (2024)
I. Biran, S Gorfman
Permissible domain walls in monoclinic MAB ferroelectrics phases
Acta Cryst A, 80, 293-304, (2024)
Funding agency:
Israel Science Foundation
Project title:
Enabling accurate X-ray structural analysis and domains reconstruction in ferroelectric PbZr1-xTixO3 crystals
Project duration:
October 2023 - October 2027
Funding agency:
Joint NSFC-ISF (China - Israel) Research Grant
Project title:
Phase coexistence and strain free boundaries in single crystals of functional ferroic materials”
Project duration:
October 2021 - October 2024
Funding agency: DFG: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Project title: The mechanisms of enhanced electromechanical coupling in uniaxial ferroelectrics
Project partner: Dr Carsten Richter , Leibniz-institute for crystal growth
Project duration: October 2023 - October 2026
Funding agency: BSF: US-Israel Billateral Science Foundation
Project title: Local structure mechanisms of electromechanical coupling in oxide ferroelectrics
Project partner: Dr Igor Levin , National Institute of Standards and Technology. Gaithersburg, USA
Project duration: October 2020 - October 2024
Funding agency:
Israel Science Foundation
Project title:
Fine structure, polarization rotation and low-symmetry phases in ferroelectric perovskites
Project duration:
October 2018 - October 2023
Wolfson Building for Mechanical Engineering, George Wise Street, Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
The wait is over: the multi-channel analyzer for time-resolved X-ray diffraction experiments with a point detector arrives.
It was developed by the former colleagues in the University of Siegen. Great to the see the old friend.
Our measurements of time-resolved X-ray diffraction under external electric field continue. Does this material have a chance to become the new "star" of piezoelectricity? If so, why?
We will get the answer soon.
The next milestone celebration in the lab. Our first laboratory-based experiments on crystals under electric field have started.
This time, it is test measurements of the piezoelectric coefficient of single crystal of quartz. Synchronization of PILATUS detector with
the applied electric field is realized using 
The new paper is accepted to Applied Physics Letters. The paper results from the past beamtime at the ID22 beamline at the European Synchrotron. It is dirven
by one of our major collaborators 
We are happy to announce that our first article on the topic of "Crystallography of Cleavage in functional materials" is now published in the latest issue of
Welcome Yair Dror, our new laboratory engineer. He will work half of his time with us and another half
with Dr Maxim Sokol (ceramics laboratory). We wish Yair a smooth start, years of successful and pleasant work.
And of course, the standard wish of staying healthy during this challenging times.
These times of COVID-19 outbreak are dominated by self-isolation, Zoom meetings and online teaching.
The laboratory is closed, the experiments are suspended. This time might be useful for analitycal
research, analyzing the data, unpacking the old and yet unpublished algorithms.
A few colorful photos of our laboratory are now available via the link 
On our way to Vienna to 
Here is the beam, as it gets out of the X-ray microfocus source and parabolic X-ray mirror.
The spots on the right / left contain Kα / Kβ lines. Kβ line can be eliminated by a pin-hole. Kα1 will be selected by the monohromator. More details are in the upcoming paper.
The "reality" of the reciprocal space. X-ray diffraction experiment is "reflected" from the surface of the X-ray detector. Nothing special, just a pretty image.
We have very special guest today - 
From now on we are able to use CrysAlisPro software to hunt for and index reflections in single crystal diffraction data. The reconstruction of the reciprocal space from Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 crystal shows that even diffuse X-ray scattering is detectable.
Sometimes, it is necessary to work until late. Especially when another important conference is coming. But at least the night views on the Tel Aviv University campus are relaxing and beautiful.
Summer conference time! 
The installation is now complete! The intense weeks with amazing Youli Li from 
The real crystallography begins when the X-ray detector is allowed to be at high scattering angle to the X-ray beam. Our custom-built instrument is surely able to do that.
26 June 2019 
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14 March 2019 
07 March 2019 
26 January 2019 
3 December 2018 
15 October 2018 
15 September 2018 
M. Vasiljevic, M. Kollár, D. Spirito, L. Riemer, L. Forró, E. Horváth, S Gorfman, D. Damjanovic 
D.-S.Park, M. Hadad, L. M. Riemer, R. Ignatans, D. Spirito, V. Esposito, V. Tileli, N. Gauquelin,
D. Chezganov, D. Jannis, J. Verbeeck, S. Gorfman, N. Pryds, P. Muralt, D. Damjanovic 
U. Vaknin, D. Sherman, S. Gorfman 
S. Gorfman, D. Spirito, N. Cohen, P. Siffalovic, P. Nadazdy, Y. Li 
A. Auslender, G. Levi, V. Ezersky, S. Gorfman, O. Dieguez, A. Kohn
J. Schultheiss, L. Porz, L. K. Venkataraman, M. Hoefling, C. Yildirim, P. Cook, C. Detlefs S. Gorfman, J. Roedel, H. Simons 
H.J. Lee, J. Kim, S.H. Hwang, H. Choe, S. Gorfman, Y.-J Heo, S.Y. Lee, P.-E Janolin, I. Kornev, T.U.Schuelli, C. Richter, J.-H. Lee, U.Pietsch, C.-H. Yang, J. Y. Jo 
A. Brovko, A. Adelberg, L. Chernyak, S. Gorfman, A. Ruzin 
Y. Hirsh, S. Gorfman, D. Sherman 
M. Angst, S. Adiga, S. Gorfman, M. Ziolkowski, J. Strempfer, C. Grams, M. Pietsch, J. Hemberger. 
S. Gorfman, A. A. Bokov, A. Davtyan, M. Reiser, Y. Xie, Z.-G. Ye, A.V. Zozulya, M. Sprung, U. Pietsch, C. Gutt 
C. Richter, M. Zschornak, D. Novikov, E. Mehner, M. Nentwich, J. Hanzig, S. Gorfman, D.C.Meyer 
G.D.L. Flor, T. Malcherek, S. Gorfman, B. Michailova
T. Iamsasri, G. Esteves, H. Choe, M. Vogt, S. Prasertpalichart, D.P. Cann, S. Gorfman, J.L. Jones
