MY RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS IN POWDER X-RAY DIFFRACTION & PHASE DIAGRAMS

I graduated from the Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University in 1955, majoring in physical chemistry. I went to the Institute of Metallurgy under the Soviet Academy of Sciences in 1956 as a Ph.D.candidate in thermochemistry and crystal chemistry of metal alloys,and got my Ph.D.degree in 1960.In the following 30 years, I did basic and applied research in interdisciplines,including crystal chemistry,materials science and solid state physics.My main achievements can be listed in two aspects as follows:

Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction,microstructural and mechanical studies of magnesium matrix composites processed by high energy ball milling

This research reports the processing of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with silicon carbide(SiC)and aluminium oxide(Al_(2)O_(3))using powder metallurgy technique through high energy milling.Samples of Mg-SiC and Mg-Al_(2)O_(3)composites subjected to high energy ball milling for different vol%of secondary particles 20,30 and 40%of SiC and Al_(2)O_(3)are studied by X-Ray diffraction technique.The rietveld method as implemented in the Fullprof program is applied in order to determine the quantities of the resulting crystalline phases and amorphous phases at each stage of the mechanical treatment.Microstructural examination is carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM).In addition,crystal structural analysis using appropriate size and strain models is performed in order to handle the distinctive anistrophy that is observed in convinced crystallographic directions for the magnesium composite.The results are furnished in terms of crystalline domains size enlargement of the magnesium composites phases upon prolonged milling duration and discussed in the light of up to date views and theories on crystal growth of nanocrystaline materials.The hardness of the composite samples is calculated by Vickers’s Hardness tester.Further,dry sling wear test and corrosion test are performed for the fabricated composites.Composite with 30%secondary particles incorporated magnesium composites exhibits better wear and corrosion resistance than the other composites.

Powder x-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis of (C_(2)H_(5)NH_(3))_(2)CuCl_(4)

Structural properties of the organic-inorganic hybrid(C_(2)H_(5)NH_(3))_(2)CuCl_(4) have been investigated by means of x-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld analysis. A structural phase transition from Pbca to Aba2 occurs at T_(4)= 240 K, which results in a paraelectric–ferroelectric phase transition. The release of the Jahn–Teller distortion with increasing temperature toward T_(4) is revealed by the structural analysis.

Microstructures and micromechanical behaviors of high -entropy alloys investigated by synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques: A review

High-entropy alloys(HEAs)possess outstanding features such as corrosion resistance,irradiation resistance,and good mechan-ical properties.A few HEAs have found applications in the fields of aerospace and defense.Extensive studies on the deformation mech-anisms of HEAs can guide microstructure control and toughness design,which is vital for understanding and studying state-of-the-art structural materials.Synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction are necessary techniques for materials science research,especially for in situ coupling of physical/chemical fields and for resolving macro/microcrystallographic information on materials.Recently,several re-searchers have applied synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to study the deformation mechanisms,phase transformations,stress behaviors,and in situ processes of HEAs,such as variable-temperature,high-pressure,and hydrogenation processes.In this review,the principles and development of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction are presented,and their applications in the deformation mechanisms of HEAs are discussed.The factors that influence the deformation mechanisms of HEAs are also outlined.This review fo-cuses on the microstructures and micromechanical behaviors during tension/compression or creep/fatigue deformation and the application of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction methods to the characterization of dislocations,stacking faults,twins,phases,and intergrain/interphase stress changes.Perspectives on future developments of synchrotron X-ray and neutron diffraction and on research directions on the deformation mechanisms of novel metals are discussed.

Intensity correlation properties of x-ray beams split with Laue diffraction

Beam splitting is one of the main approaches to achieving x-ray ghost imaging, and the intensity correlation between diffraction beam and transmission beam will directly affect the imaging quality. In this paper, we investigate the intensity correlation between the split x-ray beams by Laue diffraction of stress-free crystal. The analysis based on the dynamical theory of x-ray diffraction indicates that the spatial resolution of diffraction image and transmission image are reduced due to the position shift of the exit beam. In the experimental setup, a stress-free crystal with a thickness of hundredmicrometers-level is used for beam splitting. The crystal is in a non-dispersive configuration equipped with a double-crystal monochromator to ensure that the dimension of the diffraction beam and transmission beam are consistent. A correlation coefficient of 0.92 is achieved experimentally and the high signal-to-noise ratio of the x-ray ghost imaging is anticipated.Results of this paper demonstrate that the developed beam splitter of Laue crystal has the potential in the efficient data acquisition of x-ray ghost imaging.

Direct observation of shock-induced phase transformation in polycrystalline iron via in situ x-ray diffraction

Phase transition of polycrystalline iron compressed along the Hugoniot is studied by combining laser-driven shock with in situ x-ray diffraction technique.It is suggested that polycrystalline iron changes from an initial body-centered cubic structure to a hexagonal close-packed structure with increasing pressure(i.e.,a phase transition fromαtoε).The relationship between density and pressure for polycrystalline iron obtained from the present experiments is found to be in good agreement with the gas-gun Hugoniot data.Our results show that experiments with samples at lower temperatures under static loading,such as in a diamond anvil cell,lead to higher densities measured than those found under dynamic loading.This means that extrapolating results of static experiments may not predict the dynamic responses of materials accurately.In addition,neither the face-centered cubic structure seen in previous molecular-dynamics simulations or twophase coexistence are found within our experimental pressure range.

A Novel High Temperature Apparatus for in situ Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction Studies of Molten Salt

This study demonstrates the design and application of a novel high temperature rotatory apparatus for insitu synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of molten salts,facilitating investigation into the interaction between various structural materials and molten salts.The apparatus enables accurate detection of every phase change during hightemperature experiments,including strong reaction processes like corrosion.Molten salts,such as chlorides or fluo⁃rides,together with the structure materials,are inserted into either quartz or boron nitride capillaries,where X-ray diffraction pattern can be continuously collected,as the samples are heated to high temperature.The replacement re⁃action,when molten ZnCl2 are etching Ti3AlC2,can be clearly observed through changes in diffraction peak intensity as well as expansion in c-axis lattice parameter of the hexagonal matrix,due to the larger atomic number and ionic ra⁃dius of Zn2+.Furthermore,we investigated the high-temperature corrosion process when GH3535 alloy is in FLiNaK molten salt,and can help to optimize its stability for potential applications in molten salt reactor.Additionally,this high temperature apparatus is fully compatible with the combined usage of X-ray diffraction and Raman technique,providing both bulk and surface structural information.This high temperature apparatus has been open to users and is extensively used at BL14B1 beamline of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility.

Thermal expansion of kyanite at ambient pressure:An X-ray powder diffraction study up to 1000℃

The thermal expansion coefficients of kyanite at ambient pressure have been investigated by an X-ray powder diffraction technique with temperatures up to 1000 ℃. No phase transition was observed in the experimental temperature range. Data for the unit-cell parameters and temperatures were fitted empirically resulting in the following thermal expansion coefficients： αa = 5.8（3） × 10^-5, αb = 5.8 （1）× 10^-5, αc = 5.2（1）× 10^-5, and αv = 7.4（1） × 10^-3 ℃ 1 in good agreement with a recent neutron powder diffraction study. On the other hand, the variation of the unit-cell angles α, β and γ of kyanite with increase in temperature is very complicated, and the agreement among all studies is poor. The thermal expansion data at ambient pressure reported here and the compression data at ambient temperature from the literature suggest that, for the kyanite lattice, the most and least thermally expandable directions correspond to the most and least compressible directions, respectively.

The determination of the crystal struoure of tetra-potassium uranyl tricarbonate by powder X-ray diffraction method

A uranyl compound, K_4UO_2(CO_3)_3 has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction method. M. W.=606.46, monoclinic, C2/c (No. 15), a=1.0240(7), b=0.9198(4), c=1.2222(12)nm, β=95.12(4)°,V=1.1466(5)nm^3, Z=4, D_m=3.468g/cm^3, D_c=3.513g/cm~, λ(Cu Kα_1)=O.1540598nm, T=298K. The structure was solved by heavy atom method and Fourier synthesis, and refined by full- matrix least-squares method to R=0.1185 for 275 reflections. The uranium (Ⅵ) atom is in an eight-coordinate distorted hexagonal-bipyramidal environment with creasy fan shape. The linear uranyl group approaches to perpendicular to the equatorial plane in which three carbonate groups are chelated. U(Ⅵ) has two linear oxygen atoms closer to it (U-O=0.1767 (5) nm) than six other neighbours (U-O ranging from 0.2516 to 0.2568nm). The distances between carbon atoms and uncoordinated oxygen atoms are 0.122 (1) and 0.123(1) nm, which are distinctly different from those between carbon and coordinated oxygen atoms (mean 0.134(6) nm). This fact reveals the non-eq- uivalence of one oxygen atom to the other two in each carbonate. In K_4UO_2(CO_3)_3, the O-O dis- tance for the adjacent carbonate groups is 0.2794(4)nm approaching to the sum of Van der Waals radii of two oxygen atoms. The K-O distances vary between 0.2667 and 0.3131nm, and each anion is immediately surrounded by six potassium ions, only four of which can be considered to belong to the same structural formula unit, and they are symmetrically located above and below the equatorial plane.

Ab initio Structure Determination of [Co(NH_3)_5Br]Br_2 Using Conventional X-ray Powder Diffraction

The crystal structure of [Co(NH3)5Br]Br2 has been determined ab initio from the conventional X-ray powder diffraction data. The approximate structure with all 7 indeyendent non-H atoms was solved by direct methods. The final orthorhombic unit-cell parameters after Rietveld refinement are: a=13.6927, b=10.7071, c=6.9400A, V=1017.47A3, F30=93(0.0075,43), M20=49, Z=4. Space group is Pnma. The structure agreement factors are: Rp=0.066,Rwp=0.090, RF=0.041, RB=0.042.

X-RAY POWDER DIFFRACTION STUDY FOR RE COMPOUND GdNiSn

The compound GdNiSn has been studied by X-ray powder diffraction technique.The crystal structure and the X-ray diffraction data for this compound at room temperature are reported.The compound GdNiSn is orthorhombic with lattice parameters a=7.2044(1)A,b=7.6895(6)A,c=4.4772(4)A,space group Pna2_(1) and 4 formula units of GdNiSn in unit cell.The Smith and Snyder figure of index F_(30) for this compound is 35(0.015,59).

CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND X-RAY POWDER DIFFRACTION DATA FOR RE COMPOUND HoNiSb

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Comparative crystal structure determination of griseofulvin:Powder X-ray diffraction versus single-crystal X-ray diffraction

In an attempt to compare crystal structure determination from powder data and single-crystal data,crystal structure of griseofulvin(C 17 H 17 ClO 6) was tested by both powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Lattice parameters of griseofulvin are α=90.0°,a=b=8.9757,c=19.9345,V=1605.99 3 from powder data coinciding with α=90.0°,a=b=8.9714,c=19.8848,V=1600.46 3 from single-crystal data.Main processes of structure elucidating of griseofulvin by the two approaches were analyzed.Powder X-ray diffraction was demonstrated to be a powerful auxiliary implement to single-crystal X-ray diffraction in structure characterization,and its application can be popularized in the field of structure research of small organic molecules.

Rietveld Refinement and X-ray Powder Diffraction Data of GdAlSi

The X-ray powder diffraction data of the compound GdAlSi was studied by means of X-ray diffraction technique and refined by Rietveld method. The compound GdAlSi has tetragonal α-ThSi_2-type structure, space group I4_1/amd (No.141), Z=4, the lattice parameters a=041234 (1) nm, c=1.44202(1) nm. The Smith and Snyder figure of merit [5] F_N is F_ 30=2521(36). The R-factors of Rietveld refinement are R_p=0.098 and R_ wp=0.128. The X-ray powder diffraction data are given. The field dependence of the magnetization measured at room temperature and the temperature variation of the inverse magnetic susceptibility of the compound GdAlSi were also presented.

X-ray Powder Diffraction Data and Rietveld Refinement for NdCoGe_3

オ-ray powder diffraction data and crystal structure of RE compound NdCoGe3 were studied by using X-ray powder diffraction and refined by the Rietveld profile fitting method. The compound has the tetragonal BaNiSn3type structure, space group I4mm (No.107) a=0.42961(2) nm, c=098147(4) nm, V=0.018114 nm3, Z=2 and Dx=7.717 g·cm-3. The figure of merit FN for the powder data is F30=623 (0.0107, 45). Structure refinement was performed with 110 reflections and led to Rp=11.78% and Rwp=16.56%.

X-ray Powder Diffraction Pattern of Bi_4(SiO_4)_3

In cooperation with figure-of-merits the Rietveld analysis can appraise both angular and intensity data of powder diffraction. In this work, X-ray diffraction pattern of Bi4(SiO4)3 was redetermined with intensity figure-of-merits, which qualify agreement between observed and calculated relative intensities. F30 is 158.90 (0.0059, 32), intensity figure of merit Rint is 8.7, I20(17), 8.0. The values of figure-of-merits show that the data of JCPDS cards are distorted. Both the experimental and calculated peak positions and heights are listed in detail.

Neutron powder diffraction and high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction study of tantalum nitrides

Tantalum nitride （TAN） compact with a Vickers hardness of 26 GPa is prepared by a high-pressure and high- temperature （HPHT） method. The crystal structure and atom occupations of WC-type TaN have been investigated by neutron powder diffraction, and the compressibility of WC-type TaN has been investigated by using in-situ high-pressure synchrotron x-ray diffraction. The third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state fitted to the x-ray diffraction pressure- volume （P-V） sets of data, collected up to 41 GPa, yields ambient pressure isothermal bulk moduli of B0 = 369（2） GPa with pressure derivatives of B~ = 4 for the WC-type TaN. The bulk modulus of WC-type TaN is not in good agreement with the previous result （Bo = 351 GPa）, which is close to the recent theoretical calculation result （Bo = 378 GPa）. An analysis of the experiment results shows that crystal structure of WC-type TaN can be viewed as alternate stacking of Ta and N layers along the c direction, and the covalent Ta-N bonds between Ta and N layers along the c axis in the crystal structure play an important role in the incompressibility and hardness of WC-type TaN.

X-RAY POWDER DIFFRACTION DATA AND STRUCTURAL REFINEMENT OF Er3Co6Sn5

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X-RAY POWDER DIFFRACTION DATA AND STRUCTURE REFINEMENT OF COMPOUND ErNi_2Si_2

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High-Throughput Powder Diffraction Using White X-Ray Beam and a Simulated Energy-Dispersive Array Detector

High-throughput powder X-ray diffraction(XRD)with white X-ray beam and an energy-dispersive detector array is demonstrated in this work on a CeO;powder sample on a bending magnet synchrotron beamline at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility(SSRF),using a simulated energy-dispersive array detector consisting of a spatially scanning silicon-drift detector(SDD).Careful analysis and corrections are applied to account for various experimental hardware-related and diffraction angle-related factors.The resulting diffraction patterns show that the relative strength between different diffraction peaks from energy-dispersive XRD(EDXRD)spectra is consistent with that from angle-resolved XRD(ARXRD),which is necessary for analyzing crystal structures for unknown samples.The X-ray fluorescence(XRF)signal is collected simultaneously.XRF counts from all pixels are integrated directly by energy,while the diffraction spectra are integrated by d-spacing,resulting in a much improved peak strength and signal-to-noise(S/N)ratio for the array detector.In comparison with ARXRD,the diffraction signal generated by a white X-ray beam over monochromic light under the experimental conditions is about 104 times higher.The full width at half maximum(FWHM)of the peaks in q-space is found to be dependent on the energy resolution of the detector,the angle span of the detector,and the diffraction angle.It is possible for EDXRD to achieve the same or even smaller FWHM as ARXRD under the energy resolution of the current detector if the experimental parameters are properly chosen.