The pseudo-single-crystal method: a third approach to crystal structure determination.

A novel method that enables single-crystal diffraction data to be obtained from a powder sample is presented. A suspension of LiCoPO(4) microrods was subjected to a frequency-modulated dynamic elliptical magnetic field to align the microrods; the alignment achieved was consolidated by photopolymerization of the suspending UV-curable monomer. The composite thus obtained (referred to as a pseudo single crystal) gave rise to X-ray diffraction data from which the crystal structure was solved using the standard method for single-crystal X-ray analyses. The structure determined was in good agreement with that reported using a conventional single crystal.