X-ray atomic pair distribution function (PDF) is an X-ray scattering technique that can be used to study the local structure of materials at the atomic scale. The technique requires scattering data to be collected to very high scattering angles using high energy powder diffraction coupled with Fourier transform to produce the PDF data.
Diamond has two current beamlines capable of performing this type of experiment and is currently designing a new dedicated PDF beamline. The advantage of using of synchrotron X-rays:
In recent years PDF analysis has provided crucial information for many strategically important materials including:
XPDF (I15-1) is a dedicated X-ray Pair Distribution Function beamline. The pair distribution function allows researchers in fields as diverse as materials chemistry; solid-state physics; earth science; and pharmaceuticals to gain insight into the local structure of crystalline, amorphous, and liquid materials both ex situ and in situ.
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I15, the extreme conditions beamline, is a high energy diffraction and scattering beamline used to explore planetary interior conditions, as well as other experiments requiring high pressures and non-ambient temperatures.
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