Röntgendifraktio

Röntgendifraktio, also known as X-ray diffraction (XRD), is a powerful analytical technique used to determine the atomic and molecular structure of a crystal. It works by directing a beam of X-rays at a crystalline sample. When the X-rays interact with the regularly spaced atoms within the crystal lattice, they are scattered in a specific pattern. This scattering is governed by Bragg's Law, which relates the wavelength of the X-rays, the spacing between atomic planes in the crystal, and the angle at which the X-rays are diffracted.

The diffracted X-rays are detected, and the resulting diffraction pattern, which consists of a series of peaks at specific angles, is recorded. This pattern is unique to the crystalline material and acts like a fingerprint. By analyzing the positions and intensities of these diffraction peaks, scientists can deduce information about the arrangement of atoms within the crystal, including the size and shape of the unit cell, the presence of different phases, and the orientation of crystallites. XRD is widely used in various fields, including materials science, chemistry, geology, and pharmaceuticals, for tasks such as identifying unknown crystalline substances, quantifying the amounts of different crystalline phases in a mixture, and studying crystal defects.