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X-ray Crystallography

X-ray Crystallography

The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...

$X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples$ 01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 1, 2025

$Microcrystal Electron Diffraction of Small Molecules$

Microcrystal Electron Diffraction of Small Molecules

Published on: March 15, 2021

Establishing electron diffraction in chemical crystallography.

Tim Gruene¹, Julian J Holstein², Guido H Clever³

¹Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. tim.gruene@univie.ac.at.

Nature Reviews. Chemistry

|April 28, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

3D electron diffraction (3D ED) offers new ways to determine the structures of tiny crystals. This technique is now accessible to chemists, making electron crystallography a standard analytical tool.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Chemistry
Crystallography

Background:

3D electron diffraction (3D ED) is an emerging technique for crystal structure determination.
Recent advancements in cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography have boosted the utility of 3D ED.
The technique is particularly suited for analyzing sub-micrometre-sized crystals.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce 3D ED to chemists and chemical crystallographers.
To highlight the similarities and complementary nature of electron and X-ray diffraction.
To promote the adoption of electron crystallography as a common analytical chemistry method.

Main Methods:

Comparison of electron diffraction and X-ray diffraction principles.
Discussion of complementary aspects between the two techniques.
Guidance for implementing 3D ED in chemical laboratories.

Main Results:

3D ED provides a powerful method for structure determination of small crystals.
Electron and X-ray diffraction share fundamental similarities.
3D ED can be readily integrated into existing crystallographic workflows.

Conclusions:

3D ED is a valuable tool for the broader chemistry community.
Electron crystallography can become a routine analytical technique.
Skilled crystallographers can quickly master 3D ED structure determination with appropriate instrumentation.