Advanced Certificate in Powder Diffraction on the Web Chapter 15 School of Crystallography, Birkbeck College, University of London

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Aims & Objectives

This chapter on the subject of peak shapes gives the first in-depth look at the nature of the powder diffraction peak: why it has its shape; how the shape can be described; how the shape can be utilised.

More specific objectives are:

• To consider some of the mathematical functions used to describe the shape of the powder diffraction peak.
• To see how any such function can be applied to many peaks across a complete powder diffraction pattern.
• To discuss the various sources of peak broadening, that is both the instrumental and specimen contributions.
• To take a brief look at how the effects of crystallite size and strain on the peak might be separated and therefore determined.
• As with most chapters, it is recommended that you work your way sequentially through the pages starting at the beginning: The Concept of Peak Shape.

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