Node 5: Powder diffraction in structure determination

Powder diffraction is a key technique in the characterization of advanced materials and nanoscale structures, and is positioned to play a leading role in Australia's competitive edge in these emerging technologies. One illustrative key problem with many powder analyses is the lack of reliable absolute standards. Consequently the lattice spacings of resulting structures are not well defined. This node will develop and investigate these opportunities and limitations.

Research in magnetic and ferroelectric properties, structures and conductivities of advanced materials generally involves metal oxides. The lowering of lattice symmetry by small distortions of a typically perovskite lattice structure are responsible for many interesting properties of these systems. The study of these properties requires a detailed knowledge of these metal oxide structures, usually obtained using powder diffraction techniques based on synchrotron light sources.

Structural determinations using powder diffraction techniques are widely employed in the minerals industry, which have led to technologies in which lower-grade ores may be exploited in viable production processes.

An important technological application of powder diffraction is in the development of zeolites and microporous materials, which are used as catalysts, microreactors and filtering or sorbant systems. Chantler has made a key contribution to this recently, and Lay, Ridgway, Barnea and Cookson have also made much use of this field. We expect this Node to expand significantly.