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Material Measurement Laboratory /Materials Measurement Science Division

Materials Structure and Data Group

The Materials Structure and Data Group develops and disseminates measurement science, standards, and technology for determination of the structure of advanced materials; determines, compiles, evaluates, and disseminates key data and computational tools needed to establish the relationships between structure and performance of inorganic and hybrid materials and devices.

Our group combines expertise in all major methods of structure determination, including X-ray and neutron total (Bragg plus diffuse) scattering, various derivations of X-ray and neutron small-angle scattering, X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, diffraction and imaging tools available in a modern transmission electron microscope, spatially-resolved electron energy loss and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopies, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Experimental measurements are supplemented by first principles calculations of material structure and properties. A strong emphasis is placed on the development of data analysis and structure modeling tools that integrate inputs from multiple measurement techniques and theory to obtaining a comprehensive structural solution across the length scales ranging from sub-nanometer to several nanometers to macroscopic. Additionally, the group develops and maintains the widely used crystallographic and phase equilibria databases.

Materials Structure

Semiconductors

Selective Gas Separation

Advanced Manufacturing

Standard Reference Data

Awards

2019 - Bronze Medal Award---Thomas Gnaupel-Herold, Carelyn Campbell, Michael Katz, Eric Lass, Lyle Levine, Mark Stoudt, Maureen Williams, Fan Zhang, Thien Phan

For identifying improved post-processing treatments for additive manufacturing metal alloys that resolve a critical issue of mechanical part failure.

2016 - Silver Medal Award---Andrew Allen, Lyle Levine

For establishing a revolutionary new technique for measuring materials microstructure and dynamics over multiple scales and under working conditions.

News and Updates

A black and white image of the aluminum alloy under a microscope. Most of the image is light grey, but there are many small black spots that have lines extending out from them like cracks.

Rare Crystal Shape Found to Increase the Strength of 3D-Printed Metal

April 7, 2025

NIST researchers have found special atomic patterns called quasicrystals in 3D-printed aluminum alloys.

MMSD Staff Release Version 5.2 of SRD31, Phase Equilibria Diagrams (PED)

September 25, 2024

The third Series-5 release of SRD31 is now commercially available and provides users with processing information for more than 200 material systems not...

$Diagram shows X-rays diffraction during 3D printing, with colorized microscopic image showing the orientation of different grains within the material.$

By Cracking a Metal 3D-Printing Conundrum, Researchers Propel the Technology Toward Widespread Application

March 20, 2023

Gaps in our understanding of what happens within metal during the process have made results inconsistent. But a new breakthrough could grant an unprecedented...

Contacts

Group Leader

Igor Levin

[email protected]

(301) 975-6142

Office Manager

Group Safety Representative

Aaron Johnston-Peck

[email protected]

(301) 975-8656

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