Phase identification:

Figure 3.02 displays the typical XRD pattern of a unknown sample, the process of comparing with the database and identifying the sample structure after matching with the database. This process is almost similar to the one done for finger print search.

Figure 3.02: Schamtic of identifying the sample structure using database search.

It may be noted that the diffraction pattern for every phase is as unique as our fingerprint, i.e.,

• Phases with the same chemical composition can have drastically different diffraction patterns.

• Use the position and relative intensity of a series of peaks to match experimental data to the reference patterns in the database