Destruction of long-range order recorded with in situ small-angle x-ray diffraction in drying colloidal crystals

High-resolution synchrotron small-angle x-ray diffraction was applied for a detailed analysis of the structure and order parameters in a wet sedimentary colloidal crystals. The principles of the technique and the influence of the coherence properties of the x-ray beam were studied. The capillary forces generated during the drying process were shown to destroy the long-range order and to break the crystal into smaller crystallites with slightly different orientations. The results indicate that the strength of the diffraction and its transition into the dynamic regime can be used as an alternative approach to probe the extent of the position order in photonic colloidal crystals.