Ask the Expert: X-ray Diffraction (XRD)

During this live Ask the Expert event, we will answer pre-submitted questions from our audience about X-ray diffraction.

X-ray diffraction (XRD) is a powerful and versatile technique that can give detailed structural information about almost anything that is solid.

XRD depends on a material with long range order. When this crystalline material is exposed to a collimated beam of X-rays at a known wavelength, the X-rays will diffract by the different lattice spacings of the material. The diffraction will occur at specific angles (2Θ) with respect to these lattice spacings as described by Bragg’s Law (nλ=2d sinΘ). This means each material’s X-ray diffraction pattern is a fingerprint unique to the arrangement of the atoms in that material.

XRD can be used to identify crystalline phases in a sample, and sometimes provide semi-quantitative information. Amorphous materials cannot be identified but the ratio of amorphous to crystalline material in a sample can also be calculated. XRD can also determine crystallite size, and the degree of texture (preferential orientation) in addition to microstrain and residual stress information.

XRD is a crucial analytical technique in many industries, including but not limited to semiconductors, battery research, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals. EAG’s team of X-ray analysts has more than 100 years of cumulative experience. Combined with 9 multi-purpose diffractometers from Rigaku, Bruker, and PANalytical, EAG can provide non-routine services like high-resolution (HR) XRD rocking curves, reciprocal space maps, and micro XRD (with spot sizes down to 25 μm).

Do you want to understand the power of X-rays? Are you new to the industry and want to learn what XRD can do for you? Do you simply want to develop a deeper understanding of XRD? If so please join us for an intimate Q&A with Eurofins EAG Laboratories Senior Principal Scientist Stephen Robie, Ph.D. and Scientist Stephanie Williams, M.S.. During this 60-minute session our experts will answer pre-submitted questions from our audience. If time runs out and all questions have not been answered a follow up email will be sent out to all attendees with those answers.