The structure of Ba7Cl2F12 has been determined ab initio from conventional X-ray powder diffraction data by the “heavy atom” method. The cell is hexagonal (space group P6¯, Z=1), with a=10.6373(2) Å and c=4.1724(2) Å. Refinement of 38 parameters by the Rietveld method, using 278 reflections, leads to cRwp=0.173, cRp=0.135, and RB=0.054. The structure has common characteristics with that of the other BaF2-rich fluorochloride, Ba12Cl5F19. In both phases Ba2+ ions lie in tricapped trigonal prisms formed by nine halide ions, and Cl− ions occupy the center of trigonal prisms of Ba2+ ions. F− ions are located in cationic tetrahedra or square pyramids.

The decomposition reactions of two zirconium hydroxide nitrates Zr(OH)2(NO3)2·(4+x)H2O and α-Zr(OH)2 (NO3)2·(1+x)H2O (0≤x≤1) have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis and high-temperature X-ray powder diffractometry (HTXRD), in nitrogen gas environment. The decomposition reaction sequences were clearly displayed by the HTXRD technique. They are different for the two precursors, except the formation of amorphous zirconia at low temperature (200 °C) and crystalline zirconia at about 390 °C. Three modifications of Zr(OH)2(NO3)2·H2O (α,β,γ) were identified. Their X-ray powder diffraction patterns were indexed by the successive dichotomy method. The unit cells are triclinic and present some parametric and volumetric similarities from each other and also with that of their precursor. Moreover, the thermal decomposition sequences of Zr(OH)2(NO3)2·(4+x)H2O and α-Zr(OH)2(NO3)2·(1+x)H2O include the formation of anhydrous oxide nitrate ZrO(NO3)2 and anhydrous hydroxide nitrate Zr(OH)2(NO3)2, respectively.

A nonlinear optical material 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3-acetamidonitrobenzene, (CH3)2NC6H3NO2NHCOCH3, has been characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer method. The experimental 2θ values corrected for systematic errors, the relative intensities, values of dexp and the Miller indices of the 46 peaks observed in the 5° to 51° 2θ range are reported. The powder diffraction data have been evaluated, and the figure of merit is F30 = 36.6 (0.016, 51). The unit cell parameter least-squares refined from 38 non-overlapping peaks of the monoclinic compound with a P21 space group are: a = 4.792(1)Å, b = 13.055(2)Å, c = 8.735(1)Å, β = 94.43(2)°, V = 544.8(1)Å3, Z = 2, and Dx = 1.36 gm/cm3. The powder diffraction results are in a good agreement with those obtained from single-crystal structure data.

External standard and internal standard calibrations are important procedures for achieving high accuracy in X-ray powder diffraction studies. The theoretical basis as well as procedures for obtaining calibration curves are given. Methods and examples of selecting Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) which are produced and issued by the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), and procedures of sample preparation with these standards are also described. Three examples are presented to indicate the value of using SRMs.

A cover for Scintag's six and twelve-position sample changers was designed and constructed to provide an inert atmosphere for samples during diffraction batch runs. The cover is equipped with inlet and outlet gas ports and fits over the top of the sample changer. Using dry nitrogen gas fed into the inlet of the cover, a sample of lithium bromide was protected from atmospheric moisture for greater than 18 h. The cover uses a thin Mylar window that gives greater than 95% transparency for copper K-alpha X-rays. The cover is a simple device that allows our lab to run multiple moisture-sensitive samples in a batch mode. The simple approach and materials used in the construction of the cover could be applied to other brands of powder diffractometers.

Nickel Cimetidine Chloride, Ni(C10H16SN6)2Cl2·2H2O has been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction. Unit cell dimensions were determined by indexing programs, from diffractometer data obtained with copper radiation. A primitive monoclinic cell was found: a = 11.836(3)Å, b = 13.322(5)Å, c = 10.487(2)Å, β = 113.08 (2)°, Z = 2, Dx = 1.462 g/cm3, M.W. = 670.32. These data are consistent with values reported in the literature for other cimetidine complexes.

MeT2O6 (M = Ce, Th) are monoclinic, space group P21/n (No. 14). The cell dimensions for CeTe2O6 are a = 7.0190(7), b = 11.0423(6), c = 7.3319(8)Å and β = 108.00(8)° and for ThTe2O6 cell dimensions are a = 7.1934(4), b = 11.2310(6), c = 7.4650(2) Å and β= 108.04(6)°.

The new compound, KCr3(SO4)2(OH)6, was prepared by low-hydrothermal synthesis. The structure was refined by the Rietveld technique in space group (Z = 3), a =7.2416(3) Å, c = 17.0788(9) Å, V = 775.63 Å3, Rp = 7.7, Rwp =10.1, RB = 6.8. The compound is isotypic with alunite, KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6. The temperature of decomposition under nitrogen atmosphere to a hitherto unknown form is about 550 K. The water content of alunite-type compounds is discussed.

We have examined the barium ferrite powder X-ray diffraction patterns in the PDF using experimental and calculated diffractograms. An improved calculated diffractogram is proposed. The result indicates that the primary peak of barium ferrite is not (107) but is (114).

In this paper we propose a fitting procedure to describe the bandpass effect on all x radiation that passes through a focusing graphite monochromator used on the diffracted beam. The proposed bandpass function is: M(2θ)=1/(1+Kmon1sKmon2), with s=(2 sin θ)/λ, where Kmon1 and Kmon2 are constants which have been refined by means of a Rietveld analysis, using a physically modeled background (Riello et al., J. Appl. Crystallogr. 28, 115–120). We have investigated two polycrystalline powders: α-Al2O3 and a mixture of α and β-Si3N4. The so-obtained bandpass functions for these materials are close enough to conclude that they depend only on the used experimental setup (in the present case the X-Pert-Philips diffractometer with a graphite focusing monochromator). Knowledge of the bandpass function is important to suitably model the Compton scattering, which is a component of the background scattering. The present procedure allows one to avoid the direct experimental determination of the bandpass function, which requires the use of another monochromator (analyzer) and another tube with an intense white spectrum.

A simple procedure was devised for the preparation of a standard KCl powder to be used for the experimental determination of the instrumental profile in the Bragg–Brentano geometry. The standard was tested on several diffractometers, and narrow Bragg reflections in the range 28°–132° were recorded adopting various experimental conditions. Profiles were modeled with analytical functions, to describe the trend of width and shape of the instrumental profile as a function of the diffraction angle. Some indications were given to perform reliable profile fitting and line broadening analysis; a high resolution setup, obtained by employing narrow slits, large goniometer radius, and a monochromator in the diffracted beam, gives narrow reflections, even though the intensity of the diffracted beam is considerably reduced. The choice of these experimental conditions, which can be achieved using the majority of the commercial instruments, leads to symmetrical profiles, even at relatively low angle (2Θ=28°), which are highly recommended for reliable profile fitting and line broadening analysis.

The X-ray powder diffraction data for δ-Na2Si2O5 are reported. The sample was prepared from water glass solution applied to pressed powder tablets of finely ground quartz using a heating program with a maximal temperature of 700 °C. The crystallographic data for δ-disilicate obtained from a Rietveld analysis are: space group P21/n, a=8.3818(4) Å, b=12.0726(5) Å, c=4.8455(2) Å, β=90.303(5)°, V=490.31 Å3, Z=4, and Dcalc.=2.468 g/cm3.

A series of five synthetic tetrahedrite-group minerals has been prepared and examined using powder X-ray diffraction in order to update current powder data and provide a validation test of cell dimension prediction equations. The tetrahedrites (nominally (Cu10X2)Sb4S13 with X = Zn, Cd, Mn, Hg and Fe) have the following properties: zincian tetrahedrite, a = 10.3833 (1) Å, Dx = 4.974 (1) g/cm3, F30 = 264 (0.004, 31), M20 = 279; cadmian tetrahedrite, a = 10.5066 (1) Å, Dx = 5.073 (1) g/cm3, F30 = 208 (0.004, 37), M20 = 249; manganoan tetrahedrite, a = 10.4384 (1) Å, Dx = 4.822 (1) g/cm3, F30 = 274 (0.003, 33), M20 = 302; mercurian tetrahedrite, a = 10.5071 (1) Å, Dx = 5.570 (1) g/cm3, F30 = 150 (0.006, 35), M20 = 156; ferroan tetrahedrite, a = 10.3630 (1) Å, Dx = 5.002 (1) g/cm3, F30 = 253 (0.004, 33), M20 = 281. The experimental unit cell dimensions obtained in this study are in excellent agreement with calculated values produced using regression equations developed previously.

X-ray powder diffraction data for the complexes of glucose monohydrate with sodium bromide (C6H12O6. ½NaBr·½H2O) and sodium iodide (C6H12O6·NaI·½H2O) are reported. The crystals of both complexes are trigonal with space group P31 (No. 144). The complex with sodium bromide has a = 16.4338 (6), c = 17.623 (1)Å, V = 4121.9 Å3, Z = 18 and Dx = 1.745 cm−3. The sodium iodide complex has a = 16.5249(6), c = 17.882(1) Å, V = 4228.8 Å3, Z = 18 and Dx = 1.867 g cm−3. The Smith-Snyder FN values for these data are F30 = 59.4(0.0097,52) for the sodium bromide complex and F30 = 82.7(0.0098,37) for the sodium iodide complex.