Structure of nanocrystalline GaN from X-ray diffraction, Rietveld and atomic pair distribution function analyses

The three-dimensional structure of nanocrystalline GaN has been studied by X-ray diffraction, Rietveld and atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analyses. The material is of very limited structural coherence, yet possess a well-defined atomic arrangement resembling the wurtzite structure. The study demonstrates the great power of X-ray diffraction and the PDF approach in determining the three-dimensional structure of nanocrystalline materials.