Precision electron diffraction structure analysis and its use in physics and chemistry of solids

The present level of the precision electron diffraction provides the quanti tative analysis of the electrostatic potential and electron density in crys tals and allows us to approach the direct study of properties of solids by electron diffraction. This is demonstrated by examples of ionic compounds w ith an NaCl structure and a covalent Ge crystal. Using the analytical struc ture models of crystals, one can quantitatively characterize chemical bondi ng and study topological characteristics of the electrostatic potential by electron diffraction data. It is established that the internal crystal fiel d is well structurized, whereas the topological analysis revealed some impo rtant characteristics of its structure. These data considerably enrich our knowledge on atomic interactions in crystals. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interper iodica".