Introduction to X-ray Diffraction (XRD)
💎 XRD involves placing a sample in an instrument illuminated by an X-ray beam, with synchronized movement between the X-ray tube and detector to record signals.
⚛️ The technique focuses on materials composed of small crystals where atoms are arranged regularly, involving electrons and nuclei at the atomic scale.
📏 X-rays possess a wavelength similar to the interatomic distance in crystals, enabling the measurement of this spacing through a process called diffraction.

Principles of Diffraction and Interference
📡 Interference occurs when X-rays interact: constructive interference amplifies the signal when waves align, while destructive interference cancels the signal when waves are misaligned.
💡 When an X-ray hits an atom, its energy is absorbed by electrons and then re-emitted at the same energy as a new X-ray—a process known as elastic scattering.
✨ In a crystal, regularly spaced atomic planes scatter X-rays, leading to strong signal amplification (diffraction) at specific angles where scattered waves constructively interfere.

Bragg's Law and Application
📐 The angle between the incident and scattered beam is denoted as 2-theta ($\text{2}\theta$).
🔗 Constructive interference requires the scattered waves to align, meaning the path difference is a whole number of wavelengths.
📜 The relationship between the diffraction angle and atomic spacing is defined by Bragg's Law, derived using the sine function, famously formulated by Sir William Henry and Lawrence Bragg.
🔬 XRD is utilized today for diverse materials, from thin films to powders and amorphous substances, aiding in developing new pharmaceuticals and classifying rock formations.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ XRD utilizes the wavelength of X-rays being comparable to atomic spacing to measure structure via diffraction.
➡️ Bragg's Law mathematically links the diffraction angle ($\text{2}\theta$) to the distance between atomic planes ($d$), often written as $n\lambda = 2d\sin\theta$.
🔬 Modern XRD is an increasingly vital tool for materials engineering at the atomic level, facilitating advancements in energy storage materials and drug development.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Oct 11, 2025, 07:41 UTC