title: Pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of mesoporous α-Fe2O3 and Cr2O3.
abstract: We have measured atomic pair distribution functions of novel mesoporous metal oxides, α-Fe2O3 and Cr2O3. These have an ordered pore mosaic as well as crystalline structure within the pore walls, making them an interesting class of materials to characterise. Comparison of "bulk" and mesoporous data sets has allowed an estimate of long range structural coherence to be derived; ≈125 Å and ≈290 Å for α-Fe2O3 and Cr2O3 respectively. Further "box-car" analysis has shown that above ≈40 Å both mesoporous samples deviate greatly from their bulk counterparts. This is attributed to the pores of the mesoporous structure creating voids in the pair-correlations, disrupting long range order.
authors.affiliation: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, BP 220, Grenoble Cedex 9, France. adrian.hill@matthey.com
authors.forename: Adrian H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allieta
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D017608:Chromium Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; C023600:chromic oxide