X-Ray Powder Diffractometer (XRD)

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

last updated: July 19, 2023

About the Laboratory

X-Ray Powder Diffractometer (XRD)

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

@ Section 3.6 Chemistry and Physics of Earth Materials

This Laboratory is part of:

Networks: Geo.X

Access

Contact

Visit us on our website in DE / EN

If you have noticed any incorrect or outdated information about this laboratory on the current page, please let us know here. We will review your suggestions as soon as possible.
We appreciate your help in keeping LabInfrastructure@Geo.X up to date!

Description

The determination of angles and intensities produced by diffraction of X-Ray radiation by mineral lattices provides information, which is characteristic for their crystalline structures. X-Ray powder diffraction is used by for identification, quantitative phase analysis and structure refinement of phases in synthesized powders. Most diffraction data is processed by the Rietveld method using the GSAS software package.
The lab includes two STOE Stadi P diffractometer equipped with a curved Germanium (111) primary monochromator yielding a convergent primary beam of Kα1 radiation and a high resolution MYTHEN-detector. The typical sample size we use is around 1 mg.

Instruments

An x-ray powder diffractometer is primarily used for the identification of phases in powder form. An x-ray beam of known wavelength is focused on a powdered sample and x-ray diffraction peaks are measured using a germanium detector; the d-spacing of the observed diffraction peaks is calculated using Bragg's Law [n*lamda = 2dsin(theta)]. The Scintag Pad V automated powder diffractometer uses a Cu x-ray tube with variable filters, a four-sample changer, and a low-noise, high efficiency, liquid-nitrogen cooled germanium detector. The goniometer is automated and software packages are run from a PC running Windows NT 4. A number of Scintag software packages are available for routine powder diffraction data acquisition, background correction and peak identification. Unknowns can be matched to JCPDS cards in an on-line database. Other software is available for quantitative analysis of powder mixtures, unit cell refinement, Rietveld analysis, and GSAS structural analysis. Samples sho uld be prepared as powders with a grain size of 10 um (approximately), and typically about 100 milligrams of sample is required. Additional information available at "http://www.gps.caltech.edu/facilities/analytical/xrd.html" [Summary provided by Caltech]
An x-ray powder diffractometer is primarily used for the identification of phases in powder form. An x-ray beam of known wavelength is focused on a powdered sample and x-ray diffraction peaks are measured using a germanium detector; the d-spacing of the observed diffraction peaks is calculated using Bragg's Law [n*lamda = 2dsin(theta)]. (Source: excerpt from NASA; UUID: f54aafd2-925e-4653-b897-c6ae4e094c69) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
XRPD - X-Ray Powder Diffractometer
PXRD, Powder X-Ray Diffractometer, XRD

Analytical Methods

An x-ray powder diffractometer is primarily used for the identification of phases in powder form. An x-ray beam of known wavelength is focused on a powdered sample and x-ray diffraction peaks are measured using a germanium detector; the d-spacing of the observed diffraction peaks is calculated using Bragg's Law [n*lamda = 2dsin(theta)]. The Scintag Pad V automated powder diffractometer uses a Cu x-ray tube with variable filters, a four-sample changer, and a low-noise, high efficiency, liquid-nitrogen cooled germanium detector. The goniometer is automated and software packages are run from a PC running Windows NT 4. A number of Scintag software packages are available for routine powder diffraction data acquisition, background correction and peak identification. Unknowns can be matched to JCPDS cards in an on-line database. Other software is available for quantitative analysis of powder mixtures, unit cell refinement, Rietveld analysis, and GSAS structural analysis. Samples sho uld be prepared as powders with a grain size of 10 um (approximately), and typically about 100 milligrams of sample is required. Additional information available at "http://www.gps.caltech.edu/facilities/analytical/xrd.html" [Summary provided by Caltech] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
XRPD - X-Ray Powder Diffraction
PXRD, Powder X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Diffraction Analysis, XRD

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Disciplines

Geoscience > Geochemistry > Geochemistry
Geochemistry
Geoscience > Geochemistry > Mineralogy
Mineralogy
Geoscience > Geophysics > Mineral Physics
Mineral Physics

The Research Network for Geosciences in Berlin and Potsdam

X-Ray Powder Diffractometer (XRD)

GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences

About the Laboratory

X-Ray Powder Diffractometer (XRD)

Access

Description

Instruments

Analytical Methods

Laboratory Keywords

Disciplines

Links