This expanded, updated, third edition features many new color illustrations, timely practical examples, and experimental and computational tools introduced in the past ten years, while retaining its excellent introduction to structural characterization and crystallography. The book is written for those interested in a fundamental conceptual understanding powder diffraction and structural characterization of materials as well as in practical skills in examining phase composition and structure of materials using modern experimental powder diffraction tools.  Special attention is given to proper collection of powder diffraction data using laboratory x-ray, synchrotron, and neutron radiation.  Exemplary data sets serve as a springboard for readers to develop knowledge about modern approaches, algorithms, and software, as well as to gain proficiency in extracting precise structural information about crystalline materials from powder diffraction data.  The book requires nospecialized knowledge, so it is useful to beginners.  Suitable for upper level undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as practitioners in the research labs and the field, the authors’  in-depth treatment helps readers from various disciplines, including crystallography, materials science, solid state chemistry and physics, geology and mineralogy, become experts on this subject. 

Table of Contents:
Fundamentals of Crystalline State and Crystal Lattice.- Finite Symmetry Elements and Crystallographic Point Groups.- Infinite Symmetry Elements and Crystallographic Space Groups.- Formalization of Symmetry.- Nonconventional Symmetry.- Properties, Sources, and Detection of Radiation.- Fundamentals of Diffraction.- The Powder Diffraction Pattern.- Structure Factor.- Solving the Crystal Structure.- Powder Diffractometry.- Collecting Quality Powder Diffraction Data.- Preliminary Data Processing and Phase Analysis.- Determination and Refinement of the Unit Cell.- Solving Crystal Structure from Powder Diffraction Data.- Crystal Structure of LaNi4.85Sn0.15.- Crystal Structure of CeRhGe3.- Crystal Structure of Nd5Si4.- Empirical Methods of Solving Crystal Structures.- Crystal Structure of NiMnO2(OH).- Crystal Structure of ,i.tma V3O71.- Crystal Structure of ma2Mo7O221.- Crystal Structure of Mn7(OH)3(VO4)41.- Crystal Structure of FePO4.- Crystal Structure of Acetaminophen, C8H9NO2.