X-Ray Diffraction Applications

Mining and exploration are central to practically every modern industry worldwide—fueling innovation in everything from pharmaceuticals to semiconductors. X-ray diffraction can help scientists understand the value of their mineralogical samples by determining their mineralogy and phase composition. XRD can also help to identify and quantify toxic or undesirable elements or compounds that can adversely affect the final product or the environment.

XRD has become an integral part of the quality control and assurance process for delivering safe and compliant polymeric materials tailored for specific end-user requirements. Using XRD, scientists can obtain vital structural information such as polymorphism and crystallinity that may be indicative of undesirable properties. This, in turn, can help to determine the safety and quality of final products.

XRD solutions can help researchers develop a new generation of renewables such as synthesized biofuels—while reducing the carbon emissions of existing energy sources. These instruments can also be used to analyze critical technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, and other sources of energy storage and conduction.

As researchers work to create stronger, lighter, and more workable steel and other metals, XRD is an essential structural analysis technique. Using XRD, engineers can quickly obtain detailed phase and structural information of crystalline materials, enabling them to improve quality control and production analysis as they optimize steel for different applications.

Nanomaterials—or materials with at least one dimension measuring 100 nanometers or less—enhance the properties of everyday materials and can improve almost every facet of society, from medicine to textiles to the efficiency of energy and solar power. As scientists harness the unexpected properties of nanoparticles to unlock a vast range of applications, XRD is a powerful technique for thin and ultra-thin film analysis.