Comments on 'X-ray analysis of ZnO nanoparticles by Williamson Hall and size-strain plot methods' Solid State Sciences 13 (2011) 251-256

TL;DR

This paper critiques a previous study on ZnO nanoparticle analysis, highlighting errors in the size-strain plot method's equations and their impact on the accuracy of crystallite size and strain estimations.

Contribution

It identifies and discusses dimensional analysis errors in the size-strain plot method used in prior research, emphasizing their effect on parameter accuracy.

Findings

Incorrect equations lead to inaccurate size and strain values.

Dimensional analysis is crucial for correct parameter estimation.

Previous reported values contain errors due to methodological issues.

Abstract

The equation for the size strain plot methods reported by A. Khorsand Zak et al. (Solid State Sci. 13 (2011), 251) does not follow the dimensional homogeneity, consequently leading to an inaccurate estimation of the crystallite size and strain values of the materials under investigation and the dimensions of the obtained parameters. We also perceived an error in the values of crystallite size and strain reported by the authors using the size-strain plot method. We will discuss the importance of dimensional analysis and its repercussions on the estimated values and the units of parameters.