Developments in X-ray analysis, and advances in scientific research, have dramatically influenced the types of data now considered suitable for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction FileTM (PDF®). Initially, the PDF was geared towards the identification of unknown crystalline materials by comparison of d-spacings and peak intensities. Today, the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) maintains and continuously enhances the quality and content of the PDF database to better provide customers and scientists with a comprehensive reference source that supports their needs, and interests. The events that initially led to the inclusion of crystalline polymer data to the PDF have recently been amended to also encompass semi-crystalline and amorphous polymeric materials as well. This paper discusses the resultant updates being made to the PDF in support of this new data form, and also highlights several features and benefits of providing this data to PDF users.

In this study, CeO2 nanowires–reduced graphene oxide hybrids (CeO2 NWs–RGO) were synthesized by a green hydrothermal method using CeO2 NWs and graphene oxide (GO) as raw materials. During the process of reduction of GO, hydrothermal condition with supercritical water provides thermal and chemical factors to synthesize RGO. The photocatalytic experimental results show that the CeO2 NWs–RGO hybrids exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under UV-light irradiation. It is found that the degree of photocatalytic activity enhancement strongly depends on the mass ratio of RGO in the hybrids, and the remarkable photocatalytic activity is 20 times that of pristine CeO2 NWs when the loading amount of RGO is 8.0 wt%. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the excellently elevated absorption ability for the dye through π–π conjugation as well as the effective inhibition of the recombination of photogenerated electrons because of the electronic interaction between CeO2 NWs and RGO sheets.

Compounds in the BaxSr3−xTiNb4O15 series with x = 0.0–3.0 were synthesised. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction data were collected for each member synthesised. Rietveld refinements were performed for all compositions. A composition-dependent phase transition between orthorhombic and tetragonal symmetries was found. Cation ordering was observed between barium and strontium atoms in the two distinct A site cavities

The high cohesive interaction between reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets usually makes them difficult to disperse, which limits their utilization in achieving effective hybridization with polymers. We report here a new two-step route for preparing non-aggregated and high-conductive RGO powders. Graphene oxide precursor was first reduced by hydrazine hydrate in presence of a thermal unstable surfactant of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC). Then a thermal annealing process under H2/Ar atmosphere was further used to remove the non-conductive CTAC molecules. The prepared RGO powder exhibited an electrical conductivity of 2.23 × 104 S m−1 – about ten times higher than the one (N-RGO) simply reduced by hydrazine hydrate. After incorporating into polymethylmethacrylate with a 5 wt% loading, the composite showed a conductivity of 4.11 S m−1, which was 60 times as high as that of the same composite based on N-RGO powder. The addition and subsequent removal of CTAC molecules is an effective method for preparing non-aggregated and highly conductive graphene powder and obtaining good incorporation into polymer matrices.

The Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) is a database of small molecule organic and organometallic crystal structures elucidated using X-Ray and neutron crystallography. The CSD is distributed alongside a system of software (the Cambridge Structural Database System) to academic and industrial users. The system contains a number of applications (in particular DASH, ConQuest, and Mogul) that can be used to aid crystallographers in the solution and refinement of crystal structures from powder diffraction data, and in the interpretation of crystal structure models (in particular, Mercury). This publication uses a racemic form of ornidazole (Z′ = 3) to illustrate the efficacy of DASH in the crystal structure solution from powder diffraction data. Furthermore, numerous features in Mogul and Mercury that aid crystal structure solution and interpretation of crystallographic data are revised. Finally, a review of a new method for using database-derived geometric information directly in structural solution is presented.

A Debye–Scherrer film that had been stored for several years in an office environment file cabinet was observed to be shriveled and distorted in appearance. An investigation using X-ray diffraction was carried out to determine the cause of the physical change in the film strip. As expected, silver phases were detected, due to the photographic capture layer coated on the surface of all traditional X-ray films. An unexpected result was the presence of cellulose II, an indication that a chemical change had occurred in the original cellulose triacetate (CTA) polymer film base. Laboratory experiments used to demonstrate an accelerated method of deacetylation of CTA were carried out, resulting in phase pure cellulose II. A density functional geometry optimization allowed for the generation of an improved structural model for cellulose II. Calculated and experimental powder patterns for cellulose II have been submitted to the International Centre for Diffraction Data for inclusion in future releases of the Powder Diffraction File.

High-resolution neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data were recorded on a series of cathode material LiFe1−xMnxPO4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0) solid solutions using the HRPD machine at SINQ/PSI, Switzerland. Ab initio crystal structure solution via program FOX indicates demonstrably that the space group of LiFePO4 is Pnma with Li1+ occupying octahedral (4a) sites and Fe2+ octahedral (4c) sites, respectively, in the olivine structure. Rietveld refinement (program FullProf suite version July-2011), complementary with X-ray diffraction data, shows that Fe2+ may partially (about 2%) distribute over Li1+ sites. NPD data for LiFe1−xMnxPO4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0) reveal that the Mn2+ replaces Fe2+ at the octahedral (4c) sites. The cell parameters a, b, and c increase linearly and the interatomic distances (in Å) of Li–O(2) and Li–O(1) increase, while the interatomic distances (in Å) of Li–O(3) decrease on the addition of Mn, respectively, partially explaining a higher potential plateau of ~4.1 eV in LiMnPO4 compared to ~3.5 eV in LiFePO4.

Since Boeke's finding of a reversible phase transition of calcite (calcium carbonate, CaCO3) at elevated temperatures [Boeke, H. E. (1912). Neues Jahrb. Mineral. 1, 91–121], and following W. L. Bragg's determination of the structure of the room-temperature Phase I [Bragg, W. L. (1914). Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 89, 468–489.], the high-temperature Phase V of calcite has been an enduring mystery. Here, we summarize a paper on the structure of Phase V [Ishizawa, N., Setoguchi, H. and Yanagisawa, K. (2013). Sci. Rep. 3, 2832], as well as the intermediate Phase IV which exists between Phases I and V, and add new aspects. An in situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction study revealed that the I–IV and IV–V transitions occurred reversibly at approximately 985 and 1240 K, respectively, in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. Phase V was stable only over a narrow temperature range between 1240 and 1275 K. The crystal decomposed immediately at temperatures above 1275 K, leaving a nanoporous calcium oxide reaction product which retained the shape of the parent calcite crystal. The I–IV transition can be described as an orientational order/disorder transition of the carbonate group, occurring within the same space group $R\bar 3c$. In Phase V, the oxygen sublattice is melted. The joint-probability density function obtained from the anharmonic atomic displacement parameters of the oxygen atoms revealed that the oxygen triangles of the carbonate group in Phase V do not sit still at specified Wyckoff positions in the space group $R\bar 3m$, but are instead distributed with equal probability along the undulated circular orbital about the central carbon. The carbonate group in Phase V is no longer flat on the basal plane when the oxygen triangle comes to troughs or peaks in the undulated orbital, but is instead deformed like an umbrella. Assuming that the oxygen triangle migrates about carbon, the carbonate group should repeat the umbrella inversion in Phase V as a function of time. Finally, possible thermal decomposition mechanisms of calcite are briefly discussed.

A new Ca1/3Sb1/6Bi1/2PO4 “CaSb0.50Bi1.50(PO4)3” phosphate has been synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction techniques at 900 °C in air atmosphere. Their crystallographic structures were determined at room temperature from X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data using the Rietveld analysis. CaII1/3SbV1/6BiIII1/2PO4 material possesses the high-temperature BiPO4 monoclinic structure variety. It crystallizes in monoclinic system with P21/m space group and the cell parameters are: a = 4.9358(1) Å, b = 6.9953(2), c = 4.7075(1) Å, and β = 96.2(1)°. Their structure can be described as composed of alternating edge-sharing AO8 (A = Ca, Sb, Bi) bisdisphenoids and PO4 tetrahedra forming chains parallel to the b axis. Every AO8 polyhedron is surrounded by six PO4 and every PO4 tetrahedron is surrounded by six AO8 polyhedra. Infrared spectroscopic study was used to obtain further structural information.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) has been routinely employed in the Earth sciences to characterize the crystallography of rocks and minerals. Routine characterization of samples too small for analysis by classic automated powder diffraction methods becomes challenging without access to single crystal or micro-diffraction equipment. Here, we show that a traditional Gandolfi camera lined with an image-plate (IP) as the detection medium can return a fully quantitative diffraction pattern from a sub-milligram single grain specimen in a simple and straightforward manner. Data pertaining to peak positions (d-spacings) were assessed using SRM640c Si powder, while intensity data were compared to the certified values for intensity standard SRM676a alumina powder. The refined unit-cell dimension of Si powder differed from the certified value of 5.4312 Å by no more than 0.0003 Å with a standard deviation (σ) of 0.0002 Å among the three experiments. For intensity, the σ and disparity from the certified values of three diffraction experiments on SRM676a were both <2%. The results of a comparative study of the crystallographic parameters determined for a naturally occurring garnet and clinopyroxene given through the refinement of their crystal structure by single-crystal XRD method are presented. These show through Rietveld refinement of X-ray data obtained by the Gandolfi–IP method outlined here that both accurate and precise XRD data can be produced in a timely and cost-effective manner using only an IP, Gandolfi camera, and software freely available on the internet.

Two-dimensional X-ray diffraction (XRD2) pattern can be described by the diffraction intensity distribution in both 2θ and γ-directions. The XRD2 images can be reduced to two kinds of profiles: 2θ-profile and γ-profile. The 2θ-profile can be evaluated for phase identification, crystal structure refinement, and many applications with many existing algorithms and software. In order to evaluate the materials structure associated with the intensity distribution along γ-angle, either the XRD2 pattern should be directly analyzed or the γ-profile can be generated by 2θ-integration. A γ-profile contains information on texture, stress, crystal size, and crystal orientation relations. This paper introduces the concept and fundamental algorithms for stress, texture, and crystal size analysis by the γ-profile analysis.

The crystal structure of an isotropic, single phase, Ti-rich schorlomite garnet, ideally Ca3Ti4+2(Fe3+2Si)O12, from Magnet Cove, Arkansas was refined with the Rietveld method, space group $Ia\overline 3 d$, and monochromatic synchrotron high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction data. Electron-microprobe analysis gave an average composition {Ca2.92Na0.04Mn2+0.03Mg0.01}Σ3[Ti1.04Fe3+0.46Mg0.18Fe2+0.16Zr4+0.13V3+0.04]Σ2(Si2.21Fe3+0.71Al0.07)Σ3O12, and corresponds to the general garnet formula of [8]X3[6]Y2[4]Z3[4]O12. Schorlomite is the dominant component, but the composition contains significant amounts (>15 mol.%) of andradite, Ca3(Fe3+2)Si3O12, morimotoite, Ca3(Ti4+Fe2+)Si3O12, and morimotoite-(Mg), Ca3(Ti4+Mg)Si3O12. The crystal structure model was refined well using isotropic and anisotropic displacement parameters. Using isotropic displacement parameters, the χ2 and R (F2) Rietveld refinement values are 1.148 and 0.0742, respectively. The unit-cell parameter, a = 12.18599(1) (Å), is large for a natural schorlomite for which complete structural data are available. The bond distances are average <Ca–O> = 2.4461, Ti–O = 2.0085(5), Si–O = 1.7022(5) Å, and site occupancy factors (sofs) for Ca(sof) = 0.963(1), Ti(sof) = 1.045(1), and Si(sof) = 1.150(2). Comparison of schorlomite data from the type locality in Magnet Cove with morimotoite from Ice River, Canada and the type locality in Japan show that they are quite similar and cast doubts as to morimotoite being different from schorlomite.

CaTi1−xSnxO3 (x = 0.0–1.0) solid solutions were prepared by solid-state reaction at 1450 °C. Rietveld refinement of their powder X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that all the solid solutions crystallized in orthorhombic cells with the perovskite-type structure, the space group Pbnm. The refined unit-cell parameters linearly increased with nominal tin contents x.

Pulsed tandem gas metal arc welding (PT-GMAW) is being developed to increase productivity and minimise weld-induced distortion in ship-building. The PT-GMAW process was used in pulse–pulse mode to butt-weld two different strength and thickness steels; the residual stress and hardness profiles of the welds are reported and correlated.

A new software application has been developed to provide a convenient method for the submission of diffraction data directly to the International Centre for Diffraction Data, for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF)™. The application, titled Genie, acts as a portal for the merging of data from separate sources allowing the user to quickly and easily submit their data for the PDF. Using Java Web Start technology Genie can be run using all common computer platforms. Genie is flexible and can be used to read a variety of common file formats. Furthermore, Genie can also be used for submission of New Diffraction Data for publication in the Powder Diffraction Journal.

The structure of a birefringent andradite–grossular sample was refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCD) and synchrotron high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction (HRPXRD) data. Electron-microprobe results indicate a homogeneous composition of {Ca2.88Mn2+0.06Mg0.04Fe2+0.03}Σ3[Fe3+1.29Al0.49Ti4+0.17Fe2+0.06] Σ2(Si2.89Al0.11) Σ3O12. The Rietveld refinement reduced χ2 = 1.384 and overall R (F2) = 0.0315. The HRPXRD data show that the sample contains three phases. For phase-1, the weight %, unit-cell parameter (Å), distances (Å), and site occupancy factor (sof) are 62.85(7)%, a = 12.000 06(2), average <Ca–O> = 2.4196, Fe–O = 1.9882(5), Si–O = 1.6542(6) Å, Ca(sof) = 0.970(2), Fe(sof) = 0.763(1), and Si(sof) = 0.954(2). The corresponding data for phase-2 are 19.14(9)%, a = 12.049 51(2), average <Ca–O> = 2.427, Fe–O = 1.999(1), Si–O = 1.665(1) Å, Ca(sof) = 0.928(4), Fe(sof) = 0.825(3), and Si(sof) = 0.964(4). The corresponding data for phase-3 are 18.01(9)%, a = 12.019 68(3), average <Ca–O> = 2.424, Fe–O = 1.992(2), Si–O = 1.658(2) Å, Ca(sof) = 0.896(5), Fe(sof) = 0.754(4), and Si(sof) = 0.936(5). The fine-scale coexistence of the three phases causes strain that arises from the unit-cell and bond distances differences, and gives rise to strain-induced birefringence. The results from the SCD are similar to the dominant phase-1 obtained by the HRPXRD, but the SCD misses the minor phases.

The Debye temperature of wurtzite aluminum nitride (AlN) was determined by the Rietveld refinement method based on the room-temperature X-ray powder diffraction data. The refined lattice parameters are a = 3.11139(1) Å, c = 4.978 43(3) Å; the refined positional parameter for N is z = 0.384 59(33) Å; and the refined temperature factors of Al and N were 0.442(12) Å2 and 0.559(33) Å2, respectively. Using this refined temperature factor, the Debye temperature was evaluated as 971 K through the Debye approximation.

The crystal structure of copper(ii) citrate monohydrate (C6H4O7Cu2·H2O) has been solved from a mixture powder diffraction pattern. Approach to indexing, structure solution and Rietveld refinement of multiphase diffraction patterns is discussed. Rietveld refinement is carried out employing free-atom refinement and rigid body refinement.

The crystal structure and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns for three skutterudite samples, Fe(Sb2+xTe1−x), x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, have been determined. These compounds crystallize in the cubic space group $Im\bar 3$. Te was found to randomly substitute in the Sb site. Because of the fact the covalent radius of Sb is greater than that of Te, a trend of increasing lattice parameter has been observed as the x value in Fe(Sb2+xTe1−x) increases [cell parameters range from 9.10432(4) to 9.11120(3) Å for x = 0.0 to 0.2, respectively]. The Fe–Sb/Te bond distance also increases progressively [from 2.5358(4) to 2.5388(4) Å] as the Te content decreases. While average Sb/Te–Sb/Te distances in the four-membered rings are similar in these three compounds, the average Sb/Te–Sb/Te edge distances in the octahedral framework increase progressively from 3.5845(12) to 3.5900(13) Å. Reference XRD patterns of these three phases have been prepared to be included in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).

Recent developments in instrumentation mean that chemical analysis of large drill cores taken for geological purposes can be performed rapidly at sub-millimetre scales using core scanners equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometers. The present study describes the development of a calibration for the Itrax Core Scanner (Cox Analytical, Sweden), intended for whole cores of coal-seam sections, without the need for sample preparation. The calibration was developed for key major elements (Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ti, and Fe) based on pressed pellets of reference coals, allowing semi-quantitative and, at times, quantitative analyses. The influence of core curvature and surface roughness compared with an ideal flat-surface was also examined using model samples, and their influence on the apparent sample composition evaluated.