The identification of crystallographic phases in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been limited by the lack of a simple way to obtain electron diffraction data of an unknown while observing the microstructure of the specimen. With the development of charge coupled device (CCD)-based detectors, backscattered electron Kikuchi patterns, alternately referred to as electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) patterns, can be easily collected. Previously, EBSD has been limited to crystallographic orientation studies due to the poor pattern quality collected with video rate detector systems. With CCD detectors, a typical EBSD can now be acquired from a micron or submicron sized crystal using an exposure time of 1–10 s with an accelerating voltage of 10–40 kV and a beam current as low as 0.1 nA. Crystallographic phase analysis using EBSD is unique in that the properly equipped SEM permits high magnification images, EBSDs, and elemental information to be collected from bulk specimens. EBSD in the SEM has numerous advantages over other electron beam-based crystallographic techniques. The large angular view (∼70°) provided by EBSD and the ease of specimen preparation are distinct advantages of the technique. No sample preparation beyond what is commonly used for SEM specimens is required for EBSD.

The Lorenz-polarization (LP) factor, which is used for X-ray intensity calculations from polycrystalline materials, contains a term that describes the fraction of diffracting grains in the irradiated sample volume. We present extensions of this term and a series of experiments that tests its applicability. The implications of the analysis on microbeam diffraction are also discussed.

X-ray diffraction analysis on small samples or micro-area of large samples is always a challenge due to weak diffraction and poor statistics, especially when dealing with samples containing large grain size, inhomogeneous phase distribution, and preferred orientation. Two-dimensional X-ray diffraction has many advantages in microdiffraction analysis. A two-dimensional detector can collect a large amount of data both in terms of speed and angular coverage. This paper covers some aspects about instrumentation of two-dimensional X-ray diffraction and its applications in phase identification and stress analysis on small samples and micro-area of large samples.

Micro X-ray fluorescence (MXRF) offers the analyst a new approach to materials characterization. The range of applications is expanding rapidly. Single point analysis has been demonstrated for nanoliter volumes with detection limits at the 0.5 ng level. MXRF can be used as an element specific detector for capillary electrophoresis. Elemental imaging applications include analysis of sample corrosion and polymers, use as a combinatorial chemistry screening tool, and integration with molecular spectroscopic imaging methods to provide a more comprehensive characterization. Three-dimensional elemental imaging is a reality with the development of a confocal X-ray fluorescence microscope. Stereoview elemental X-ray imaging can provide unique views of materials that flat two-dimensional images cannot achieve. Spectral imaging offers chemical imaging capability, moving MXRF into a higher level of information content. The future is bright for MXRF as a materials characterization tool.

The crystal structure of the common expectorant guaifenesin, 3-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1, 2-propanediol (C10H14O4) was solved by applying Monte Carlo simulated annealing techniques to synchrotron powder data, and refined using the Rietveld method. Initial structure solutions yielded an unreasonable conformation, and an unacceptable refinement. Quantum chemical geometry optimizations were used to identify the correct conformation. Guaifenesin crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 (#19), with a=7.657 05(7), b=25.670 20(24), c=4.979 66(4) Å, V=978.79(2) Å3, and Z=4. Both hydroxyl groups act as hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, resulting in the formation of a two-dimensional network of strong hydrogen bonds in the ac plane. The solid state conformation is ∼4 kcal/mol higher in energy than the minimum-energy conformation of an isolated molecule, but the formation of the hydrogen bonds results in an energy gain of ∼100 kcal/mol. Knowledge of the crystal structure permits quantitative phase analysis of guaifenesin-containing pharmaceuticals (such as Duratuss GP 120-1200) by the Rietveld method.

Direct methods and Rietveld analysis were applied to high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data to solve the crystal structure of dicalcium chromate hydrate (Ca2CrO5⋅3H2O). The compound crystallizes in monoclinic symmetry (space group Cm, Z=2), with a=8.23575(5) Å, b=7.90302(4) Å, c=5.20331(3) Å, and β=98.0137(3)°. The structure is built from double-layers of CrO4 tetrahedra and CaO8 polyhedra that run parallel to the (001) plane.

(Pr0.55Ca0.45)(Mn1−yCry)O3 (with y=0.00, 0.03, and 0.06) have been prepared by means of a solid state reaction from stoichiometric powder mixtures of binary oxides. X-ray powder diffraction analysis reveals the formation of the perovskite-type compound for the whole considered compositions; no evidence for secondary phases may be detected. The structural refinements have been carried out using X-ray powder diffraction data applying the Rietveld method; the lattice parameters of the orthorhombic cell faintly change with composition. On the contrary the tilting of the octahedra results are strongly dependent on the concentration of Cr in the 4b site. Bond valence sum method has been applied in order to evaluate the possible presence of lattice-induced strains and the amount of Mn4+. Structural data are also reported.

Synthetic diamonds are an important class of industrial material. During synthesis impurities may get introduced into diamond. Identification and quantification of impurities is important as they affect the properties and suitability of the diamonds for their application. Impurities in an industrial synthetic diamond powder sample were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and also by chemical methods. X-ray diffraction pattern showed diamond as the major phase and α-iron as a minor phase. Quantitative analysis of crystalline phases was done by performing Rietveld refinement of the XRD profile. Chemical analysis showed the presence of several other impurities as well, though in small amounts. It was considered that the impurities other than iron were in amorphous form and an estimate of the amorphous content was made on this basis. Relative phase composition of diamond and iron as estimated by XRD were corrected for the amorphous content to obtain absolute phase composition.

Ten fragments of bronze age frescoes from the Greek group of volcanic islands known as Santorini have been examined by powder X-ray diffraction. A qualitative phase analysis based on line positions only was supplemented by the Rietveld method which uses complete diffraction profiles to increase the credibility of the phase analysis.

A neutron powder diffraction study on the crystal structure of the title compound (p-Br–C6D4–CD2–OD) confirmed that a first-order phase transition at Tt1=229 K accompanied a drastic change in the molecular conformation caused by a discontinuous rotational shift of the hydroxyl hydrogen atom around the C(D2)–O(D) bond. At T<Tt1, a contraction of the unit cell volume of ∼1% was found when compared to that of the normal compound (p-Br–C6H4–CH2–OH).

The crystal structure of several compounds of Ca1−xSrxZr4(PO4)6 ceramics has been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction at room temperature. All compounds form a solid solution with a unique unit cell. While the lattice parameter a of the hexagonal unit cell decreases of about 0.9% with increasing Sr content only slightly, it considerably elongates in c direction (2.8%). No structural transformation has been observed by high-temperature X-ray diffraction up to 1000 °C.

AFeTi(PO4)3 (A=Ca,Cd) materials were obtained by solid state reaction in air at 1000 °C. Structures of the two compounds were determined from X-ray diffraction data using Rietveld analysis. Both phases exhibit the Nasicon-type structure (R3¯c space group) with a statistical Fe(Ti) distribution within the framework. Their hexagonal cell parameters are a=8.518(1) Å, c=21.797(2) Å and a=8.534(1) Å, c=21.416(2) Å, for CaFeTi(PO4)3 and CdFeTi(PO4)3, respectively. Cd atoms occupy the M1 site in CdFeTi(PO4)3. From XRD data, it is difficult to distinguish without ambiguity between Ca2+ and Ti4+ ions in CaFeTi(PO4)3. Nevertheless from the cation–anion distance found after the structure determination, Ca2+ distribution within the M1 site of Nasicon structure are validated.

Na4CrNi(PO4)3 orthophosphate powder was prepared from acid solutions of NiO, Na2CO3 and aqueous solutions of Cr(NO3)3.9H2O, and (NH4)2HPO4 at a final temperature of 750 °C. The hexagonal unit cell parameters were determined to be ah≈8.789 Å and ch≈21.481 Å in space group R3¯c. These parameters were compared to those of Na4AA′(PO4)3 (AA′=CrMg, CrCo, TiNa, ZrNa). The linear variations of these parameters versus the mean A cation radius (rAA′) are consistent with the atomic distribution found for the structure of Na4NiCr(PO4)3. The ah and ch parameters are functions of the An+ ion size.

Four manganese carbonyl complexes: CpMn(CO)3 (1) and its phenylvinylidene derivatives Cp(CO)2Mn=C=CHPh (2), [Cp(CO)2Mn]2(μ-C=CHPh) (3), and Cp(CO)2Mn=C=C(Ph)–C(Ph)=C=Mn(CO)2Cp (4) have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction and their unit cell parameters are reported. The monoclinic cell parameters found for complex (1) are a=12.0479(7) Å, b=7.0614(5) Å, c=10.9172(6) Å, β=117.626(2)°, Z=4, space group P2(1)/a (No. 14). The orthorhombic cells parameters for complex (2) are a=10.5240(12) Å, b=33.1105(48) Å, c=7.5007(9) Å, Z=8, space group PCCN (No. 56); for complex (3) are a=15.3545(17) Å, b=15.3966(18) Å, c=8.0033(7) Å, Z=4, space group P21212121 (No. 19). The parameters found for complexes (1–3) are in good agreement with those obtained from single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The single crystal structure of complex (4) has not been studied. The orthorhombic cell parameters for complex (4) found by X-ray powder diffraction method are a=10.0986(9) Å, b=33.2937(27) Å, c=7.4139(5) Å, Z=4, space group P21 (No. 4).

Six A-type zeolites: NaA, MnNaA, CoNaA, NiNaA, ZnNaA, CdNaA have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The zeolites with selected divalent cations have been synthesized by a very careful ion-exchange process using very high quality NaA zeolite. Experimental 2θ peak positions, relative peak intensities, values of d and Miller indices as well as a unit cell parameter are reported.

The X-ray powder diffraction patterns for three 4-tert-butylcalix(4)arenes were determined. The similarity and differences between them were compared and discussed.