Two compounds have been studied by means of powder diffraction and their unit cell parameters are reported. The monoclinic cell parameters for dimethylgermanyl-bridged bis cyclopentadienyl tetracarbonyl diruthenium are a=11.03(2) Å, b=13.65(2) Å, c=11.609(2) Å, β=105.81(1)°, Z=4, space group P21/n (No. 14), Dx=2.135 mg/m3. The monoclinic cell parameters for λ-dimethylsilyl-dicyclopentadienyl-π, π′-tetracarbonyl diruthenium, are a=11.113(3) Å, b=13.60(1) Å, c=11.674(7) Å, and β=106.00(3)°, Z=4, space group P21/n (No. 14), and Dx=1.946 mg/m3. The cells found for the two compounds are in good agreement with those obtained from single crystal X-ray diffractometry.

X-ray powder diffraction data for a new calcium zirconium phosphate Ca7Zr(PO4)6 are reported. The sample was prepared by heating mixtures of CaCO3, ZrO2, and NH4H2PO4 in prescribed molar ratios at 1623 K. Powder diffraction data were collected with a laboratory X-ray source (Cu Kα) for refinement of unit-cell parameters and intensity measurement of individual reflections. Crystallographic data were Ca7Zr(PO4)6, cubic, I-43d (No. 220), a=0.98338(1) nm, V=0.95097(3) nm3, Z=2, and Dx=3.29 Mg m−3. This compound is most probably isomorphous with eulytite.

The object was to perform simultaneous quantitative analyses of complex pharmaceutical solid mixtures by the Rietveld method. Mixtures consisting of anhydrous β-carbamazepine, anhydrous α-carbamazepine, and carbamazepine dihydrate were chosen as the model system. Lithium fluoride was used as the internal standard. Mixtures of various compositions were prepared and subjected to X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). The XRD pattern of each mixture was analyzed by the Rietveld method and at the end of the refinement, the goodness of fit was evaluated. When the analyte concentration was high (≥20%), the relative error in the determination was <±5%. The detection of analyte was possible even when its concentration was low (<1% w/w). A unique advantage of the method is that it enables simultaneous quantitative analyses of multiple phases without the requirement of “standard curves.” © 2001 International Centre for Diffraction Data.

The outcome of the analysis of data from a Round Robin on a KCl sample is reported. The research project has led to a definition of a working protocol for the treatment of X-ray diffraction data from powders (XRPD). The protocol is based on the method of “Diffraction Instrumental Monitoring” (DIM), whose main characteristics are briefly illustrated. When experimental data are referred to the expected standard values of the lattice parameter, the method enables comparison with data obtained from differing instrumentation found in different laboratories. Application of DIM to the KCl Round Robin demonstrates the ability of DIM to effectively evaluate systematic contribution. Accuracy on the cell parameter is obtained as a direct consequence; in this application, where the knowledge of the KCl d-spacing was not a problem, the accuracy of lattice parameter is a feedback for constraining the evaluation of the effective values of the experiment-related parameters.

The crystal structure of CaZr(PO4)2 was determined from conventional X-ray powder diffraction data using direct methods, and it was further refined by the Rietveld method. The structure was orthorhombic (space group P212121, Z=4) with a=1.448 76(4), b=0.672 13(1), c=0.623 47(2) nm, and V=0.607 10(3) nm3. Final reliability indices were Rwp=6.49%, RB=2.43%, and S=1.32. The Ca atom is sevenfold coordinated, and the Ca atom and surrounding oxygen atoms form a distorted capped octahedron with a mean Ca–O distance of 0.243 nm. The ZrO7 coordination polyhedron is a distorted pentagonal bipyramid with a mean Zr–O distance of 0.216 nm. CaO7, ZrO7, and PO4 polyhedra share edges to form infinite chains with the composition [CaO3ZrO3P2O8]12− along the [010]. Individual chains are linked together, forming a two-dimensional sheet parallel to (100). These sheets are stacked in the [100] direction to form a three-dimensional structure.

Two selected members of the homologous series An+2BBn′O3n+3 (A=Sr and Ca; B and B′=Co) have been investigated for their crystal structures because of their potential applications as thermoelectric materials. A combined Rietveld refinement and spin-polarized magnetic geometry optimization technique was employed for the structural studies. Both the n=3 member, (Sr0.8Ca0.2)5Co4O12, and the n=4 member, Sr6Co5O15, have distorted hexagonal perovskite-related structures that possess one-dimensional cobalt oxide chains separated by alkaline-earth cations. The linear chains consist of one unit of CoO6 trigonal prism alternating with n units of CoO6 octahedra. Crystal structures and reference powder X-ray diffraction patterns of (Sr0.8Ca0.2)5Co4O11 [P3c1, a=9.4196(2) Å, c=19.9857(6) Å, V=825.83 Å3, and Dx=5.358 g/cm3] and Sr6Co5O15 [R32, a=9.497 64(12) Å, c=12.3956(2) Å, V=968.34 Å3, and Dx=5.455 g/cm3] are reported.

The compound Th13Te24O74 was prepared by three independent methods, namely, thermal decomposition of ThTe2O6 in oxygen and argon and direct solid-state reaction of ThO2 and TeO2. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the three products, by and large, are similar, except for some differences in intensities and extra diffraction lines. The thermal decomposition of ThTe2O6 was carried out in the streams of oxygen and argon by thermogravimetry at a heating rate of 5 K/min in the temperature range of 725–840 °C. The solid-state reaction of ThO2 and TeO2 (13:24) was carried out in a sealed ampoule at 700 °C. The measured density of this compound is 8.23 g/cm3. An orthorhombic lattice with unit cell parameters, a=11.310±0.005 Å, b=14.064±0.006 Å, c=9.056±0.004 Å, and volume of 1440.419±1.088 (Å)3 was determined for this compound.

Doubly curved crystal (DCC) X-ray optics provide an enabling technology for new portable, remote, and in situ applications of monochromatic X-rays for composition and structure analysis of amorphous, polycrystalline, and crystalline solids. Femtogram sensitivity for surface contamination, parts-per-billion (ppb) impurity levels for solids, and composition, structure and uniformity of thin films with compact, low power (20–50 W) source optic combinations are possible.

Powder X-ray diffraction data are reported for RE6UO12 (RE=Eu, Gd, and Dy). The powders were prepared by a solution combustion method using urea as fuel. All compositions exhibit a rhombohedral structure with hexagonal unit cell parameters of a=1.012 67 (9) nm, c=0.9601 (1) nm for Eu6UO12; a=1.008 78 (6) nm, c=0.954 24 (7) nm for Gd6UO12; and a=0.998 06 (7) nm, c=0.944 03 (8) nm for Dy6UO12. The diffraction patterns of all the compounds are indexed on the R3¯ space group with Z=3. The a and c values decrease with increasing atomic number of the rare earth ion.

Improved powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data for franzinite, the ten-layer member of the cancrinite group of minerals, were obtained using an automated parallel-beam powder diffractometer with a capillary mount. The cell parameters of franzinite were found to be a=12.8976(3) Å, c=26.5040(8) Å, V=3818.2(2) Å3 in space group P321, while the strongest reflections were at 3.725(100), 3.809(65), 3.562(56), 3.586(55), 2.662(42), 2.150(31) and 3.302(30) Å. The new results include an increased number of indexed peaks, improved figures-of-merit with respect to PDF 30-1170 and intensities validated by Rietveld refinement.

The crystal structure of the layered cadmium hydroxide sulfate Cd4SO4(OH)6.1.5H2O has been solved from X-ray powder diffraction data. The compound crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry, a=9.145(1) Å, c=15.099(3) Å, V=1093.5 Å3, Z=4, space group P63. Due to the unusual environment of one cadmium atom and to the fact that a suitable thin tabular crystal could be found later, a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment was also carried out. In both cases the structure was solved applying direct-methods. The refinements converged to the residual factors Rwp=0.152 and RF=0.059 from the powder data and R1=0.058 and wR=0.165 for the single crystal data case. The structure is built from brucite-type layers based on CdO6 octahedra, in which one-seventh of the octahedral sites are empty. Directly above and below these empty sites, two additional octahedrically coordinated Cd atoms are located. The crystal chemistry of the cadmium hydroxide sulfate family is discussed.

The existence of glass or amorphous component in Portland cement clinker has been questioned for a long time. However, besides the crystalline phases, there are reports in the literature of noncrystalline material in cement clinker, which is considered to be the residue of the melt that has failed to crystallize. Absolute phase abundances were determined in this study by Rietveld refinements with laboratory X-ray data, using both internal and external phase composition standards. The results clearly demonstrate the existence of an amorphous component in Portland cement clinker. The presence of an amorphous component was also apparent from diffraction data for clinker from which the silicate phases had been chemically removed, using both laboratory X-ray and synchrotron radiation patterns.