X-Ray Diffraction
X-Ray Diffraction
X-Ray Diffraction
X-ray Diffraction
Physics origin of spectra 2022 1st Materials Sci. & Eng.
History of X-ray 2022 1st Materials Sci. & Eng.
• Classically
– Acceleration of electric charge generates electro-magnetic wave
– Polychromatic, continuous or white X-ray sine it is made up, like white light, of rays of many
wavelengths.
– Called Bremsstrahlung, German for “Braking radiation” because it is caused by electron
deceleration.
– Continuous spectrum
reflections must
be in phase for
a detectable signal
extra
distance l
travelled
by wave “2”
θ θ
spacing
d between
planes
In a diffractometer, a moving x-ray
detector records the 2θ angles at which
the beam is diffracted, giving a
characteristic diffraction pattern
nλ
X-ray intensity d=
(from detector)
2 sin θc
θ
θc
Bragg’s Law 2022 1st Materials Sci. & Eng.
2d sinθ = nλ n = 1, 2, 3, ...
Determine the d for (111) plane, the lattice constant ao and atomic radius if
you get (111) peak at 2θ = 38 o and the crystal structure is FCC.
X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern 2022 1st Materials Sci. & Eng.
z z z
c c (211) c
(110) (200)
y y y
a b a b a b
Intensity (relative)
x x x
Diffraction angle 2θ
Diffraction pattern for polycrystalline α-iron (BCC)
Various diffraction patterns 2022 1st Materials Sci. & Eng.