Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction

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.

Schematic of a typical EDXRD experiment

History

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

Advantages

The advantages of EDXRD are (1) it uses a fixed scattering angle, (2) it works directly in reciprocal space, (3) fast collection time, and (4) parallel data collection. 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 pressures). When the EDXRD method is used, only one entrance and one exit window are needed. The fixed scattering angle also allows for measurement of the diffraction vector directly. This allows for high-accuracy measurement of lattice parameters. It allows for rapid structure analysis and the ability to study materials that are unstable and only exist for short periods of time. Because the whole spectrum of diffracted radiation is obtained simultaneously, it enables parallel data collection 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
German Electron Synchrotron	Hamburg, DE	P61B[6]	50–150
Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source	Ithaca, NY	B1[7]	unknown
Diamond Light Source	Oxfordshire, UK	I12[8]	50–150
SOLEIL	Paris, France	I03c[9]	15–100
Indus 2	India	BL-11[10]	unknown

References

1. Kämpfe, B.; Luczak, F.; Michel, B. (2005). "Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffraction". Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 22 (6): 391–396. doi:10.1002/ppsc.200501007. S2CID 97000421. 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. 15 (2): 269–277. Bibcode:1980JMatS..15..269L. doi:10.1007/BF02396775. S2CID 189834585.
4. "Beamline X17B1". Brookhaven National Laboratory. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
5. "Beamline 16-BM-B: Sector 16 – Bending Magnet Beamline". Argonne National Laboratory. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
6. "P61B Large Volume Press (DESY)". Helmholtz Association. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
7. "CHESS West – B1". Cornell University. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
8. "I12: Joint Engineering, Environmental, and Processing (JEEP)". Diamond Light Source. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
9. "PSICHÉ beamline". Synchrotron SOLEIL – L'Orme des Merisiers Saint-Aubin. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
10. Pandey, K. K.; et al. (April 2013). "Energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction beamline at Indus-2 synchrotron source". Pramana. 80 (4): 607–619. Bibcode:2013Prama..80..607P. doi:10.1007/s12043-012-0493-0. S2CID 122303528.