Nanoscience and the Scherrer equation versus the ‘Scherrer–Gottingen equation’

Nanotechnology is generally considered to be a relatively new field and so it may surprise some that the year 1912 has recently been proposed for the birth of modern nanotechnology, to coincide with the invention of the immersion ultramicroscope by Zsigmondy. Although modern microscopes have atomic resolution, the average size of nanoparticles is routinely estimated from the width of X-ray diffraction pattern peaks using a simple equation first published by Scherrer in 1918. A recent note by Holzwarth and Gibson urges those working in the field to review the basic physics involved, to note the various factors that contribute to the broadening of X-ray diffraction peaks and to cite Scherrer's original paper where appropriate. Having clarified the issue of authorship, it is clear that from the outset, Scherrer's paper was cited with errors and these errors were copied from paper to paper. This situation has culminated in the 'birth' of a fictitious co-author -- N.G.W. Gottingen.