Electron Diffraction Radial Distribution Function Analysis of Amorphous Boron Carbide

Abstract

Short-range and medium-range ordered structures of amorphous materials can be evaluated by radial distribution functions and atomic pair-distribution functions extracted by quantitative analyses of diffraction intensities. Because of the strong interaction of electrons with materials and the short wavelength of high-energy electrons, electron diffraction can produce intensity profiles up to high scattering angles comparable to those of neutron diffraction and synchrotron x-ray diffraction in a short time. Here, we present an example of electron diffraction radial distribution function analysis of amorphous boron carbide by electron diffraction techniques.