Experimental methods for determining crystal structure

X-ray scattering

X-rays are scattered off the periodically arranged atoms, the particular ways the X-rays scatter give information about the location of atoms in the crystal lattice.

Electron scattering

Because electrons do have a wave nature, they can also be scattered off atoms in a crystal lattice, this process is similar to X-ray scattering. Some differences are that

1. Electrons used in this way have a smaller wavelength than X-rays, this allows for greater resolution.

Neutron diffraction

Similar to electron and X-ray diffraction, neutrons with wavelength ~0.1nm are used to scatter off atomic centers in a crystal to create a pattern from which its atomic structure can be derived.