Structure determination of polycrystalline materials (Instrument SPODI)

Prof. Dr. Winfried Petry

Polycristalline material or powder samples can be investigated at the Structur POder DIffractometer (SPODI). Information on the structural as well as magnetic odering can be obtained. The analysis of the obtain diffraction pattern allows to determine the structure and fraction of phases quantitatively.

Apart from classical powder samples (average particle size a few micrometer) nanoparticles, polycrystalline sintered compacts or textured materials can be investigated. For recent measurements typical examples are oxidized high temperature superconducters, ceramics, combustibles, Li batteries, materials with giant magnetic resistances, zeoliths, metal-hydrogen-memory and others.

At the powder diffractometer SPODI samples under the following conditions can be analysed:

  • Sample form: solid (bulk or powder), liquid
  • Sample mass: > 100mg
  • Temperatur
    • 3-300K (closed cycle cryostat)
    • 5-750K (closed cycle cryo-furnace)
    • 300-2100K (high temperature vacuum furnace)
  • Uniaxial tension: Fmax=100kN
  • Wave length: 1.55-4.08 Å
  • in preparation: pressure cell, high field magnet

In addition to the wide angle diffraction a small angle option can be used to determine particle sizes (Nano-particles) size distributions and morphologies of the sample.