X-ray Diffraction
Abstract
X-ray diffraction has acted as the cornerstone of twentieth-century science. Its development has catalyzed the developments of all of the rest of solid-state science and much of our understanding of chemical bonding. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) plays a critical role in materials research and development because many materials and minerals are not readily available in single-crystal form. Some 10000-20000 powder diffractometers are in use worldwide, and of the order of 160000 powder patterns are available in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF) electronic database. Although the technique is termed ''powder diffraction,'' any polycrystalline specimen may be studied using the technique, including monolithic solids, thin films, and powders. Among the applications of powder diffraction are:
- Publication:
-
Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology
- Pub Date:
- 2001
- DOI:
- 10.1016/B0-08-043152-6/01778-2
- Bibcode:
- 2001emst.book.9799M