How Do X-Ray Diffraction and Absorption Techniques Work?
X-ray diffraction (XRD) involves directing X-rays at a crystalline material and measuring the diffraction pattern to determine the material's crystal structure. This information is crucial for understanding how the arrangement of atoms within a catalyst influences its activity and selectivity.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measures the absorption of X-rays as a function of energy. It provides information on the local atomic environment and electronic structure of specific elements within a material. Techniques like Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) are subsets of XAS that give insights into bond lengths, coordination numbers, and oxidation states.
