Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction

Schematic of a typical EDXRD experiment

Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) is an analytical technique for characterizing materials. It differs from conventional X-ray diffraction by using polychromatic photons as the source and is usually operated at a fixed angle.^[1] With no need for a goniometer, EDXRD is able to collect full diffraction patterns very quickly. EDXRD is almost exclusively used with synchrotron radiation which allows for measurement within real engineering materials.^[2]

Sample data from an EDXRD experiment where synchrotron radiation is utilized. Spectra can be generated rapidly and as a function of position or time.

History

EDXRD was originally proposed independently by Buras et al. and Giessen and Gordon in 1968.^[3]

Advantages

• Fixed scattering angle – The fixed scattering angle geometry makes EDXRD especially suitable for in situ studies in special environments (e.g. under very low or high temperatures and/or pressures). When the EDXRD method is used, only one entrance and one exit window are needed.

• Works directly in reciprocal space – The fixed scattering angle also allows for measurement of the diffraction vector directly. This allows for high-accuracy measurement of lattice parameters.

• Fast collection time – Allows for rapid structure analysis and able to study materials that are unstable and only exist for short periods of time

• Parallel data collection – Because the whole spectrum of diffracted radiation is obtained simultaneously, it enables studies where structural changes can be determined over time.

Facilities

Facility	Location	Beamline	Energy range (keV)
National Synchrotron Light Source	Upton, NY	X17B1[4]	50–200
Advanced Photon Source	Argonne, IL	16-BM-B[5]	10–120
Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source	Ithaca, NY	B1[6]	unknown
Diamond Light Source	Oxfordshire, UK	I12[7]	50–150
SOLEIL	Paris, France	I03c[8]	15–100
Indus 2	India	BL-11[9]	unknown

References

1. Kämpfe, B.; Luczak, F.; Michel, B. (2005). "Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffraction". Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 22: 391–396. doi:10.1002/ppsc.200501007. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
2. "Energy Dispersive Diffraction". Diamond Light Source. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
3. Laine, E.; Lähteenmäki, I. (February 1980). "The energy dispersive X-ray diffraction method: annotated bibliography 1968–78". Journal of Materials Science (Springer) 15 (2): 269–277. Bibcode:1980JMatS..15..269L. doi:10.1007/BF02396775. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
4. "Beamline X17B1". Brookhaven National Laboratory. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
5. "Beamline 16-BM-B: Sector 16 – Bending Magnet Beamline". Argonne National Laboratory. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
6. "CHESS West – B1". Cornell University. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
7. "I12: Joint Engineering, Environmental, and Processing (JEEP)". Diamond Light Source. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
8. "PSICHÉ beamline". Synchrotron SOLEIL – L'Orme des Merisiers Saint-Aubin. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
9. Pandey, K. K.; et al. (April 2013). "Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction beamline at Indus-2 synchrotron source". Pramana (Springer) 80 (4): 607–619. Bibcode:2013Prama..80..607P. doi:10.1007/s12043-012-0493-0. Retrieved March 17, 2014.