Crystal structure of the skutterudite-related phase has been refined by the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffraction data. Refined crystallographic data for CoSn1.5Te1.5 are a=12.9063(2) Å, c=15.7837(3) Å, V=2276.89(4) Å3, space group R3 (No. 148), Z=24, and Dx=7.50 g/cm3. The crystal structure of the title compound can be viewed as a modification of the skutterudite structure (CoAs3)—it is isostructural with CoGe1.5Te1.5 and IrSn1.5Te1.5. In the structure of CoSn1.5Te1.5, the Sn and Te atoms exhibit long-range ordering, which results in lowering of the original cubic symmetry of the skutterudite structure to the trigonal one.

Results of crystal structure refinements and phase quantification for samples of Co-doped lanthanum chromites with nominal composition LaCr1−xCoxO3, for x=0.00, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30, prepared by combustion synthesis are presented. The resulting powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patterns were obtained with Cu Kα radiation for non-doped lanthanum chromite sample and additionally with Cr Kα radiation for Co-doped lanthanum chromites samples, in order to enhance the signal from scattering. Rietveld analysis of XRD data showed that the studied samples presented the lanthanum chromite with an orthorhombic structure (Pnma), except for the composition with x=0.30, in which the space group was found to be R3c.

A lattice thermal expansion study on Li2NiMn3O8, a high-voltage cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, was carried out by high-temperature X-ray diffraction from room temperature to 973 K. Rietveld refinement of a high-quality room-temperature diffraction pattern confirmed that Li2NiMn3O8 has the cubic Al2MgO4 spinel type of crystal structure. The analysis of the high-temperature X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the Li2NiMn3O8 structure remained stable and no phase transition was detected over the temperature range from 298 to 973 K. As expected, the value of lattice parameter a or unit cell volume V increases with increasing temperature. The increase in a or V is linear only in the low-temperature region and nonlinear over the entire temperature range from 298 to 973 K. Least-squares analysis of the data for a or V showed the thermal expansion of a or V for Li2NiMn3O8 can best be fitted by a 3-degree polynomial function of temperature. The linear thermal expansion coefficients for a and V averaged over the entire temperature range from 298 to 973 K were also calculated, and αTa=1.10×10−5 K−1; αTV=3.29×10−5 K−1.

X-ray and neutron fiber diffraction has been used to study cellulose as it is converted from its naturally occurring crystal phase, cellulose I, to an activated crystal phase, cellulose IIII, by ammonia treatment. The detailed crystal structures determined for cellulose Iβ, an intermediate ammonia-cellulose I complex, and cellulose IIII, reveal a structural transition pathway: hydrogen bonded sheets of chains in cellulose Iβ slip with respect to each other to accommodate the penetrating ammonia guest molecules in the intermediate complex. On evaporation of ammonia from the intermediate complex, there is a relative small change in chain packing as an inter-sheet ammonia bridge is replaced by an inter-sheet hydrogen bond in cellulose IIII. When cellulose IIII is heated it converts back to cellulose Iβ. Both ammonia-cellulose I and cellulose IIII have extended chains of cooperative hydrogen bonds in relatively open crystal structures that may add to their susceptibility to rapid change.

The structure of a high-pressure polymorph of glycine (the β′-polymorph formed reversibly at 0.8 GPa from the β-polymorph) was determined from high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data collected in situ in a diamond anvil cell at nine pressure points up to 2.6 GPa. X-ray powder diffraction study gave a structural model of at least the same quality as that obtained from a single-crystal diffraction experiment. The difference between the powder-diffraction and the single-crystal models is related to the orientation of the NH3-tails and the structure of the hydrogen-bonds network. The phase transition between the β- and β′-polymorphs is reversible and preserves a single crystal intact. No transformations were observed between the β-, α-, and β′-polymorphs on compression and decompression, although the α- and β′-polymorphs belong to the same space group (P21/c). The instability of the β- and γ-forms with pressure can be predicted easily when considering the densities of their structures versus pressure. The direction of the transformation (i.e., which of the high-pressure polymorphs is formed) is determined by structural filiation between the parent and the high-pressure phases because of the kinetic control of the transformations.

K2Zn3(P2O7)2 was synthesized by solid state reaction and its crystal structure was determined by ab initio method from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The title compound was determined to be orthorhombic with space group P212121, Z=4, and lattice parameters a=12.901(8) Å, b=10.102(6) Å, and c=9.958(1) Å. Values of lattice parameters from 303 to 573 K were measured by temperature-dependent XRD. Thermal expansion coefficients α0, lattice parameters, and cell volume at 0 K were determined to be α0(a)=1.62327×10−4/K, a0=12.855(4) Å, α0(b)=1.17921×10−4/K, b0=10.070(8) Å, α0(c)=2.62364×10−4/K, c0=9.880(4) Å, and α0(V)=6.599×10−2/K, V0=1278.967(0) Å3. The specific heat equation as a function of temperature was determined to be Cp=0.77115+0.00231T−1241.60027T−2−1.4133×10−6T2 (J/K g), for temperatures from 198 to 710 K. The melting point estimated from the μ-DTA heating curve is 795 °C.

This study focuses on characterization of an (Al,Cr)3Ti alloy processed together with titanium powder by reactive mechanical milling (RMM) to produce an ultrafine grained intermetallic alloy matrix with in situ carbide and hydride phases formed during processing. Observations of X-ray scattering as RMM processing time increases show severe broadening of matrix diffraction peaks, accompanied by the appearance of diffraction peaks resulting from the formation of very small crystallites of TiC and TiH1.92 phases with increasing volume fractions, and finally, increasing background intensity as the crystallite size of the matrix phase decreases to ∼2 nm. Estimates of phase volume fractions were made by the direct comparison method, along with crystallite sizes by Warren–Averbach peak profile analysis. The general increase in background intensities has been attributed to random static displacements of the large fraction of atoms located within the grain boundary regions. Further, it has been concluded that the matrix material with a crystallite size of a few nanometers has about half the atoms in statically displaced positions defining the boundary regions. The results argue that background intensity changes should not be ignored and are useful in interpreting scattering from these nano-scale materials.

The crystal structure of titanium-tin tellurium oxide Sn0.59Ti0.41Te3O8 has been determined using X-ray powder diffraction techniques. At room temperature, the title compound crystallizes in cubic space group Ia-3, with lattice parameter a=11.05515(6) Å. Rietveld refinement of the structure led to final confidence factors Rp=0.0395 and Rwp=0.0577. The structure of Sn0.59Ti0.41Te3O8 consists of isolated Ti/SnO6-octahedra slightly deformed in the a direction. The TeO4E [E=lone pair of Te(IV) atoms] groups are located between the octahedra ensuring the stability of the structure by Ti/Sn-O-Te bonding contacts. Only one peak in thermal behavior was detected for this compound at 488 K by differential scanning calorimetry experiment. An IR spectroscopic study is employed as a means to obtain preliminary structural information and shows the presence of the Ti/SnO6 and TeO4E groups. This result is later confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.

The α, β, γ, and δ polymorphs of Y2Si2O7 were synthesized using sol-gel and solid-state methods. The structures of the α and γ polymorphs were determined by identification of isostructural rare-earth disilicates, and the structures were refined using Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data. The α polymorph crystallizes in space group P1, with a=6.5872(6) Å, b=6.6387(7) Å, c=12.032(1) Å, α=94.501(7)°, β=90.984(8)°, γ=91.771(7)°, and volume=524.16(9) Å3. The γ form is described by space group P21/c, a=4.68824(5) Å, b=10.84072(9) Å, c=5.58219(6) Å, and γ=96.0325(3)°. The anisotropic thermal expansion of each phase was measured using high temperature diffraction up to 1200 or 1400 °C, depending on the stability of the polymorph. The thermal expansion is highly anisotropic for all polymorphs, with the low-expansion direction normal to the long axis of the corner-shared SiO4 tetrahedra.

Samples of the superconducting compound (Hg,Re)–1223 of nominal composition Hg0.82Re0.18Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+δ and different oxygen contents were studied using X-ray absorption and diffraction techniques. In the synthesis process, treatments under different ratio oxygen/argon gas mixtures of 5%, 10%, and 15% O2 resulted in samples named as Sample A, Sample B, and Sample C, respectively. It was determined by using the XANES technique that in these compounds the Re cation has valence +7. The study by EXAFS determined that the octahedral coordination is distorted and the distances of Re–O bonds are of the order of 1.85 A˚ for equatorial oxygen and 2.10 A˚ for the apical ones. The Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data revealed that the studied samples presented segregation of two superconducting phases with space group P4/mmm and distinct lattice parameters, also confirmed by anomalous X-ray scattering. The main phase was associated to the phase (Hg,Re)–1223 with higher oxygen content and the secondary superconducting phase was associated with the undoped Hg–1223 phase. Measurements of ac magnetic susceptibility showed that the sample treated under 10% O2 atmosphere presented the best superconducting properties.

A new ternary compound Dy5Co6Sn18 was synthesized and studied. The crystal structure of Dy5Co6Sn18 was determined using the Rietveld refinement method. The compound was found to crystallize in tetragonal space group I41/acd, Tb5Rh6Sn18-type structure, with a=13.5598(3) Å, c=7.1470(5) Å, Z=8, and Dcalc=8.789 g/cm3. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity on polycrystalline samples were also performed. The Curie–Weiss law was followed, with θp=−15.7 K and μeff=10.61μB. Dy5Co6Sn18 is a spin-glass with a freezing temperature of 6.5 K.

Synthesis and structure of two phosphates belonging to the ternary Sb2O5–In2O3–P2O5 system are realized. Structures of SbV1.50InIII0.50(PO4)3 and (SbV0.50InIII0.50)P2O7 phases, obtained by solid state reaction in air at 950 °C, were determined at room temperature from X-ray powder diffraction using the Rietveld method. SbV1.50InIII0.50(PO4)3 have a monoclinic (space group P21/n) distortion of the Sc2(W O4)3-type framework. Its structure is constituted by corner-shared SbO6 or InO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra. Monoclinic unit cell parameters are a=11.801(2) Å, b=8.623(1) Å, c=8.372(1) Å, and β=90.93(1)°. (Sb0.50In0.50)P2O7 is isotypic with (Sb0.50Fe0.50)P2O7 and crystallizes in orthorhombic system (space group Pna21) with a=7.9389(1) Å, b=16.0664(2) Å, and c=7.9777(1) Å. Its structure is built up from corner-shared SbO6 or InO6 octahedra and P2O7 groups (two group-types). Each P2O7 group shares its six vertices with three SbO6 and three InO6 octahedra, and each octahedron is connected to six P2O7 groups.

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder diffraction. The DSC thermograms showed a slight reduction in the melting point of lipid matrix and a broadening of its melting peak, indicating an increased number of lattice defects in SLNs. X-ray powder diffraction data also revealed a slightly broader reflection for SLNs and the presence of X-ray peaks of the all-trans retinoic acid (RA) crystals outside of the lipid matrix of SLNs without stearylamine (STE). These data suggest the presence of an extensive association of ion pairing components (RA and STE), and indicate that the utilization of some specific types of compounds containing amine groups is an interesting approach to improve the encapsulation efficiency of RA in SLNs. The formation of the ion pairing is an interesting alternative for RA encapsulation in SLNs, improving the benefits obtained by the drug incorporation in lipid matrix (increased stability, controlled release, and targeting effect), which are important for the topical treatment of acne.

Time-resolved synchrotron powder diffraction was used to follow the thermal transformation of cement-asbestos. Thermal transformation of asbestos fibers into nonfibrous crystalline phases is a promising solution for the elimination of these hazardous minerals. Time resolution offered by the use of an imaging plate detector with a high-brightness X-ray source allowed for the observation of metastable phases, commonly not detectable with conventional instrumentation. In addition, the use of a closed capillary as a sample holder mimicked the real, novel industrial reactor where cement-asbestos slates are sealed in a tunnel kiln. The changing gas atmosphere in the closed system was shown to affect the final composition of the recrystallized product. This study demonstrates the importance of advanced powder diffraction techniques in this field of applied research.

A novel type X-ray detector, called PILATUS, has been developed at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland during the last decade. PILATUS detectors are two-dimensional hybrid pixel array detectors, which operate in single-photon counting mode. PILATUS detectors feature a very wide dynamic range (1:1 000 000), very short readout time (<3.0 ms), no readout noise, and very high counting rate (>2×106counts/s/pixel). In addition, a lower energy threshold can be set in order to suppress fluorescence background from the sample, thus a very good signal-to-noise ratio is achieved. The combination of these features for area detectors is unique and thus the PILATUS detectors are considered to be the next generation X-ray detectors. The basic building block of all the detectors is the PILATUS module having an active area of 83.8×33.5 mm2. The PILATUS 100K is a complete detector system with one module. PILATUS detector systems can have other configurations, including large area systems consisting of 20 to 60 modules that can cover up to an area of 431×448 mm2. Such large systems are mainly used for macromolecular structure determination, such as protein crystallography and small angle X-ray scattering. The PILATUS 100K detector can be easily adapted to many systems; the single-module detector is integrated to an in-house X-ray diffraction (XRD) system. Examples of XRD measurements with the PILATUS 100K detector are given.

Nanocrystals of Zn1−xMxO (M=Mn, Co, or Ni) were grown using proteic sol-gel process, and the crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. The nanocrystals have hexagonal wurtzite structure, with space group P63mc. The insertion of Mn2+ in the place of Zn2+ provoked an increase in the size of the nanocrystals, and the insertion of Co2+ or Ni2+ caused a reduction in the sizes of the nanocrystals, as compared to pure ZnO. This occurred because these three transition metals have very different ionic radii (Co2+=0.58 A˚, Mn2+=0.66 A˚, Ni2+=0.55 A˚, and Zn2+=0.60 A˚).

Synchrotron-based X-ray microbeam measurements were performed on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) features strained by adjacent shallow-trench isolation (STI). Strain engineering in microelectronic technology represents an important aspect of the enhancement in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor device performance. Because of the complexity of the composite geometry associated with microelectronic circuitry, characterization of the strained Si devices at a submicron resolution is necessary to verify the expected strain distributions. The interaction region of the SOI strain extended the SOI film thickness from the STI edge at least 25 times. Regions of 65-nm-thick SOI less than 3 μm wide exhibited an overlap in the strain fields because of the surrounding STI. Microbeam mapping of arrays containing submicron SOI features and embedded STI structures revealed the largest out-of-plane strains because of the close proximity of superimposed strain distributions induced by the STI.

Isothermal sections at 1100 and 1500 °C were determined by X-ray powder diffraction method to reveal stable phases and chemical pathways in the Co–Si–C system. There is no ternary compound present in either isothermal. Cobalt silicides are formed in the Co-rich region at temperatures lower than those in the Si-rich region. CoSi2 reacts with carbon to form CoSi and SiC at 1500 °C, and Co2Si and CoSi are more stable in equilibrium with carbon. The results are also discussed in terms of thermodynamics and binding energy of the reacting substances.

Polycrystalline BaTi1−x(Zn1/3Nb2/3)xO3 (x=0.025 and 0.9) compounds were synthesized successfully and studied by XRD and dielectric measurements. The effects of the Ti/(Zn,Nb) ratio on the structure and dielectric properties of the compounds were investigated. XRD results indicated that the crystal structure of the x=0.09 compound is cubic perovskite with space group Pm3m and a=4.0095(4) Å. For the x=0.09 compound, a splitting of the (200) peak was observed near 40.2°, indicating that the crystal structure changed from cubic to tetragonal, with space group P4mm, a=4.026(4) Å, and c=4.0091(4) Å. Rietveld refinement of the crystal structures led to final confidence factors Rp=0.0353 and Rp=0.0349 for x=0.025 and 0.9, respectively. Dielectric measurements showed a relaxor behavior present in BaTi0.1(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.9.

CdTe thin films were grown on indium tin oxide glass substrates by a closed-space sublimation method using a resistor heater. Crystalline structure, morphology, and band gaps of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical absorption, respectively. The XRD analysis showed that the textures of the films were found to depend on the rate of increase in the heating current. The CdTe thin film had an (111) texture when the heating current rate was 2.0 A/min. The SEM analysis revealed that the film is composed of polyhedral grains of microns size. However, the (111) texture of the CdTe thin film observed by XRD decreased with the appearance of (220), (311), (400), (331), (422), and (511) peaks of the fcc CdTe phase when the heating current rate increased to 4.5 A/min. The (111) texture disappeared when the heating current was increased immediately from 0 A to the target current of 70 A. SEM results revealed that the grains in the film are round and the grain size is smaller than 1 μm. Optical absorption analysis showed that there is no distinctive difference in the band gaps of the films.