HIGH-RESOLUTION POWDER DIFFRACTION STUDIES OF POLYCRYSTALLINE MATERIALS

Large improvements have been made in the quality of powder diffraction data by the use of synchrotron radiation. This has led to enhancements in the traditional areas such as phase analysis, peak broadening studies and strain measurements, and also opened up possibilities for dynamic and time-resolved investigations of phase changes or solid-state reactions, and the solving and refining of crystal structures from powder data. Some general aspects of these developments are described. At the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France, a powder diffraction beam line is under construction. A description of the beam-line configuration and its performance spefications is given. The new instrument will have very high angular and energy resolution and will lead to further increases in the scope for powder diffraction measurements.