Structure in solid state matter

Crystal structures
PEARL can be used for (neutron) diffraction. Neutron diffraction is an important technique for studying the atomic structure deep underneath the surface of materials and is very sensitive to elements such as hydrogen and lithium in energy materials. The atomic resolution of PEARL can be used for storage materials for hydrogen and ammonia, and magnetocaloric material for energy conversion. The technique is also suited to fields of research such as zeolites, thermoelectrics and ferroelectrics, and fixed material solar cells.

Layered structures
The ROG neutron reflectometer can provide information about the thickness, composition and roughness of thin films and other layered structures. This set-up can be used to study (stacks of) layers with thicknesses of 5 - 150 nm while providing a resolution up to 0.2 nm. Neutron reflectometry can be used to non-destructively study both liquid and solid samples in a variety of different experimental conditions. The positron facilities can be applied to investigate vacancies and deficiencies in layers of solid matter of a few microns thick.

Structure of opaque materials
SANS is a powerful technique to study the structure of opaque materials at size ranges of nanometers to 0.1 micrometer. Various components can be highlighted through the variation of the scattering contrast with selected deuteration.

SANS is primarily used for projects in molecular biology and soft matter science (colloids, polymers, macromolecules & membranes and biological systems).

Structure in solid matter
The SESANS instrument can see correlations with characteristic lengths up to 15 micrometers. The ROG can investigate layered structures of thicknesses up to 300 nanometer. The positron facilities can be applied to investigate vacancies and deficiencies in layers of solid matter of a few microns thick.