Large-Scale Structures

Journal article

Large-scale structures encompass a broad area of science involving soft matter, biomaterials, and nanotechnology, defined by relatively weak interactions and length scales that extend from nanometer to micrometer. The key features of such systems that require characterization and quantification are surfaces and interfaces, adsorption, thin films, and self-assembly and hierarchical structures in solution and the solid phase. The neutron scattering techniques of neutron reflectivity and small-angle neutron scattering have emerged over the past two decades as important probes of these characteristic features of large-scale structures. In this chapter, the fundamentals of the two techniques are described in detail and the important experimental aspects summarized. Their application over a broad range of science is presented, in a way that highlights their unique properties and their important contribution to the field. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Authors: Penfold, J; Tucker, I

• Journal: Experimental Methods in the Physical Sciences
• Volume: 44
• Pages: 353-413
• Publication date: 2013-01-01
• DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-398374-9.00005-X
• ISSN: 1079-4042
• Language: English
• Keywords: Adsorption; Self-assembly; Thin films; Neutron reflectivity; Small-angle neutron scattering