The main powder analysis applications for the Bragg-Brentano Geometry are:

• Identification of crystalline phases in organic and inorganic compounds.

• Quantitative phase analysis in organic and inorganic compounds.

• Particle size determination.

• Crystal structure determination performing Rietveld refinements.

Available capillaries in the facility are (Diameter): 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm. Material: Borosilicate

Advantages of transmission-mode powder diffraction

Transmission geometry requires samples that are sufficiently transparent for the type of X-rays used. The incident X-ray beam fully penetrates, and is transmitted through, the sample with only moderate attenuation.

The advantages of transmission geometry in powder diffraction are detailed:

• Generally, transmission mode is good for low density samples or weakly absorbing materials; i.e. pharmaceutical substances, proteins, synthetic polymers (foils and fibers) and other organic materials.

• Small amounts of sample are sufficient. We can transfer the sample into a thin capillary or in horizontal sample holders in our setup.

• Fluids; i.e. liquid dispersions can be measured.

• Air-sensitive samples can be sealed in a capillary or between kapton foils.

• Reduction of the preferred orientation effects in powder samples.

• To obtain accurate Rietveld refinements. Using this geometry the data resolution is increased due to much quantity of sample is illuminated by X-rays and as a consequence it enhances statistics.

Available capillaries in the facility are (Diameter): 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm. Material: Borosilicate

Advantages of transmission-mode powder diffraction

Transmission geometry requires samples that are sufficiently transparent for the type of X-rays used. The incident X-ray beam fully penetrates, and is transmitted through, the sample with only moderate attenuation.

The advantages of transmission geometry in powder diffraction are detailed:

• Generally, transmission mode is good for low density samples or weakly absorbing materials; i.e. pharmaceutical substances, proteins, synthetic polymers (foils and fibers) and other organic materials.

• Small amounts of sample are sufficient. We can transfer the sample into a thin capillary or in horizontal sample holders in our setup.

• Fluids; i.e. liquid dispersions can be measured.

• Air-sensitive samples can be sealed in a capillary or between kapton foils.

• Reduction of the preferred orientation effects in powder samples.

• To obtain accurate Rietveld refinements. Using this geometry the data resolution is increased due to much quantity of sample is illuminated by X-rays and as a consequence it enhances statistics.

The MRD (Materials Research Diffractometer) is suitable for the structural characterization in thin-films materials at room and high temperature. This diffractometer has a horizontal ω-2θ goniometer (320 mm radius) in a four-circle geometry and it works with a ceramic X-ray tube with Κα anode (λ=1.540 Å). This diffractometer is equipped with different incident and diffracted optics which can be interchanged depending on the application required (i.e. a parabolic mirror, a hybrid monochromator, a Ge(440) four-crystal monochromator, a parallel plate collimator, and a polycapillary lens). The detector used is a PIXcel which is a fast X-ray detector based on Medipix2 technology with a 256x256 pixels array.