Gas–solid interactions studied by quantitative powder X-ray diffraction analysis

Abstract

An X-ray diffraction chamber suitable for the simultaneous, quantitative study of solid structure and product composition of stoichiometric and catalytic reactions between solids and gases is described. It may be attached to a conventional or rotating-anode laboratory-scale X-ray generator and to synchrotron sources. Some typical results obtained in the oxidative coupling of methane over lithium nickel oxide at 700 °C are cited (see also the following paper). Rietveld profile analysis of the diffraction patterns recorded using the chamber may be routinely carried out, especially with uniform heterogeneous catalysts.