X-ray pair distribution function analysis of nanostructured materials using a Mythen detector.

Total scattering from nanocrystalline materials recorded on the Australian Synchrotron powder diffraction beamline has been analysed to produce atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) for structural analysis. The capability of this beamline, which uses the massively parallel Mythen II detector, has been quantified with respect to PDF structure analysis. Data were recorded to a wavevector magnitude, Q, of 20.5 A(-1), with successful PDFs obtained for counting times as short as 10 s for crystalline LaB(6) and 180 s for nanocrystalline (47 A) anatase. This paper describes the aspects of a PDF experiment that are crucial to its success, with reference to the outcomes of analysis of data collected from nanocrystalline TiO(2) and microcrystalline LaB(6) and IrO(2).