An estimate of crystallite size from the peak of the diffraction line-profile

A simple method is proposed for determining the measure of crystallite size D_m = (/)^1/2 from the behaviour of a size-broadened line profile near its maximum. By comparison of this measure with that based on the integral breadth (D_I = /), an indication is given of the width of the crystallite column length distribution in the material which avoids Fourier analysis. A procedure for removing the effect of the instrumental profile is developed, and the results applied to two supported metal catalysts.