X-ray scattering data measured on femtosecond timescales at the SACLA X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility on a suspension of HfO2 nanoparticles in a liquid jet were used for pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. Despite a non-optimal experimental setup resulting in a modest Qmax of ~8 Å-1 , a promising PDF was obtained. The main features were reproduced when comparing the XFEL PDF to a PDF obtained from data measured at the PETRA III synchrotron light source. Refining structural parameters such as unit cell dimension and particle size from the XFEL PDF provided reliable values. Although the reachable Qmax limited the obtainable information, the present results indicate that good quality PDFs can be obtained on femtosecond timescales if the experimental conditions are further optimized. The study therefore encourages a new direction in ultrafast structural science where structural features of amorphous and disordered systems can be studied.
Keywords: X-ray free electron laser; femtosecond studies; nanoparticle nucleation; pair distribution function; structural dynamics.
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