Advances in Characterization of Nanomaterials by X-ray/Neutron Scattering Methods

Dear Colleagues,

Scattering methods contribute essentially to the characterization of modern nanomaterials. This is due to the multiphase structure of the materials themselves. As well as the combination of bulk properties, the interfaces and interphases contribute to the complicated mechanisms that drive the functionality of nanomaterials to a much higher level. Scattering methods ideally obtain statistically averaged properties and do not rely on lucky discoveries of rare configurations. Often, natural contrasts between the different materials support the characterization well, but isotope exchange (mostly hydrogen vs. deuterium) can also highlight specific components that are the focus of nanoscale mechanisms. While, for X-ray scattering, the number of electrons of the atoms determines their scattering power, this is unsystematic in neutron scattering, which allows for the specific study of hydrogen and lithium atoms in their environment. In X-ray scattering, the method of contrast variation becomes viable by the use of certain resonances of the electronic shells, and in neutron scattering, it is achieved through the isotope exchange. This may be used to address a very complicated interplay of several substances in a composite material. The bulk structure characterization of nanomaterials is established well, and the possibility of surface-sensitive methods, such as reflectometry and grazing incidence scattering, especially focuses on planar interfaces. Finally, neutron spectroscopy is highly suited to the study of equilibrium motions of nanomaterials, while kinetic studies aim at processes that are highly important for manufacturing nanomaterials.

Examples that have proven to be well suited for scattering characterizations are lithium and sodium batteries, fuel and electrolyzer cells, composite materials of soft and solid compounds (for instance rubbers), colloidal particles, polymeric micelles, food emulsions, microemulsions, protein complexes, tissue mimicking materials for medical applications, and many more. Most of them inherently incorporate processes in their application, and a number of kinetic scattering studies must be applied for this task. Snapshots of different states during the production or the final application also provide valuable insights through the use of scattering methods. This Special Issue envisages a broad spectrum of many more examples not yet seen in the literature.

Dr. Henrich Frielinghaus
Guest Editor

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