Interplanar Spacing Calculator

Interplanar spacing, or d-spacing, is the distance between parallel crystal lattice planes in a crystalline material. It's a fundamental parameter that helps identify crystal structures and phases through X-ray diffraction analysis.

Bragg's law states that nλ = 2d sin(θ), where n is the order of reflection, λ is the X-ray wavelength, d is the interplanar spacing, and θ is the Bragg angle. This equation allows us to calculate d-spacing from XRD peak positions.

The most common X-ray source is Cu Kα radiation with a wavelength of 0.15418 nm (1.5418 Å). Other sources include Co Kα (0.17902 nm) and Mo Kα (0.07107 nm), depending on the sample requirements.

The order of reflection n represents the number of wavelengths in the path difference. For most XRD analysis, n = 1 corresponds to first-order diffraction, which produces the strongest and most commonly observed peaks.

Peak position is the angle at which diffraction peaks appear in your XRD pattern. Zoom in on your XRD graph to identify peak maxima and read the corresponding 2θ angle value from the x-axis.

d-spacing is commonly expressed in nanometers (nm) or Ångströms (Å). The conversion is: 1 nm = 10 Å. Both units are widely used in crystallography literature.

Peak position should be measured as accurately as possible, typically to 0.1° or better. Small errors in 2θ can significantly affect calculated d-spacing values, especially at higher angles.

Yes, this calculator applies Bragg's law universally and works for all crystal systems. However, remember that different crystal planes will have different d-spacing values within the same material.