Microstructure evaluation of nanocrystalline MgO powders using the advanced X-ray line profile analysis

• MgO nanopowders were prepared by sol–gel and annealed at different temperatures.
• The behavior of size distribution of samples was evaluated using the SEM images.
• The effect of stacking and twinning defects on the X-ray was studied by DIFFaX.
• The microstructure parameters were determined by incorporating DIFFaX into eCMWP.
• The microstructure parameters were evaluated in terms of annealing temperature.

In this study the magnesium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via the sol–gel method and annealed at different temperatures between 400 and 800 °C in air. In order to evaluate the microstructure of samples, the scanning electron microscopy technique as well as the advanced X-ray diffraction analysis (DIFFaX software and eCMWP fitting procedure) was used and the behavior of crystallite size, size distribution function, dislocation density, the fractions of edge/screw dislocation characters and the probability of planar defects were studied as a function of annealing temperature.