We have designed and realized a temperature and pressure controlled cell for Neutron Reflectometry (NR) and Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) that is compatible with simultaneous optical transmission and resistivity measurements. The cell can accommodate samples up to 102 mm (4 inch) in diameter, can be pressurized from vacuum up to 10 bar gas pressure and the sample temperature can be controlled up to 350°C. The four single crystal quartz windows ensure both a good neutron and optical transmission and hence can be used in combination with in-situ optical transmission measurements. We present the cell and illustrate its performance with a series of neutron reflectometry experiments performed on Ta based thin films under a hydrogen containing atmosphere.

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We have used spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering (SESANS) to probe the hierarchy of structures present in polymer–carbon nanocomposites, with length scales spanning over three orders of magnitude, from 10 nm to 16 μm. The data processing and reduction show a unified approach across two SESANS instruments (TU Delft and Larmor at the ISIS neutron source) and yield consistent data that are able to be modelled using well-established hierarchical models in freely available software such as SasView. Using this approach, we are able to extend the measured length scales by over an order of magnitude compared to traditional scattering methods. This yields information about the structure in the bulk that is inaccessible with conventional scattering techniques (SANS/SAXS) and points to a way for interrogating and investigating polymer nanocomposites routinely across multiple length scales.@en

In this work, Zr addition is proposed to refine the nanoparticle dispersion in an ODS RAF steel of composition Fe-14Cr-2W-0.3Zr-0.24Y (wt.%). Three batches of material are obtained using pre-alloyed atomized powder, where yttrium is directly introduced in the melt, and manufactured through three different processing routes. First route is based on the newly developed STARS route that aims to avoid subsequent mechanical alloying. The second route explores the impact of mechanical alloying in pre-oxidized powders. The third route uses mechanically alloyed powders without the pre-oxidation process. The ODS-powders were individually consolidated by hot isostatic pressing and later hot rolled. The obtained materials were characterized by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. SANS and XAS analysis point out the absence of oxide nanoparticles in the material based on the STAR route. SANS analysis confirms that the mechanically alloyed materials do exhibit the presence of nanoparticles. These are identified as Zr-O-rich nanoprecipitates by XAS and the calculated A-ratio by SANS is linked with the phase Y2Zr2O7. Their radii are in the range of 3–3.6 nm. XAS results show that mechanical alloying minimizes the initial differences regarding the oxidation state between the ODS powders with and without pre-oxidation.@en

We conduct simulations of Spin Echo Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SESANS) by employing Monte Carlo methods to a setup using four magnetic Wollaston prisms. Our primary focus involves the validation of these models, encompassing monochromatic scenarios across various neutron wavelengths to ascertain the reliability of the simulations. Subsequently, we extend this validation to encompass simulations in time-of-flight mode. Our model consistently and precisely predicts the scattering patterns emanating from dilute spheres in both monochromatic and time-of-flight modes. Notably, it also accurately reproduces the intricate encoding associated with scattering occurring between the third and fourth magnetic Wollaston prism, which provides us with another approach to increase the solid angle coverage of a SESANS instrument. This validation process conclusively demonstrates the efficacy of our simulation methods. Importantly, it paves the way for simulating more intricate and realistic instrumental configurations, broadening the horizons for future research endeavours.@en

We present a resonant-mode, transverse-field, radio-frequency (rf) neutron spin flipper design that uses high-temperature superconducting films to ensure sharp transitions between uniform magnetic field regions. Resonant mode allows for low-power, high-frequency operation but requires strict homogeneity of the magnetic fields inside the device. This design was found to efficiently flip neutrons at 96.6 ± 0.6% at an effective frequency of 4 MHz in bootstrap configuration with a beam size of 2.4 × 2.5 cm2 and a wavelength of 0.4 nm. The high frequency and efficiency enable this device to perform high-resolution neutron spectroscopy with comparable performance with currently implemented rf flipper designs. The limitation of the maximum frequency was found due to the field homogeneity of the device. We numerically analyze the maximum possible efficiency of this design using a Bloch solver simulation with magnetic fields generated from finite-element simulations. We also discuss future improvements of the efficiency and frequency to the design based on the experimental and simulation results.@en

We show the implementation of superconducting magnetic Wollaston prisms for spin echo small-angle neutron scattering. Two calibration methods for the spin echo length are presented: one utilizing spin echo modulated small-angle neutron scattering and the other based on the neutron refraction by quartz wedge crystals. Our experimental results with polystyrene nano-particle colloids showcase the system’s efficacy in measuring both dilute and concentrated colloidal systems. Additionally, investigations into the pore diameter and pitch of a nano-porous alumina membrane demonstrate its capability in analyzing nano-porous materials. Furthermore, we discuss potential optimizations to further extend the accessible spin echo length.@en

Intraparticle entanglement of individual particles such as neutrons could enable another class of scattering probes that are sensitive to entanglement in quantum systems and materials. In this work, we present experimental results demonstrating quantum contextuality as a result of entanglement between the spin and energy modes (i.e., degrees of freedom) of single neutrons in a beam using a pair of resonant radio-frequency neutron spin flippers in the modulated intensity with zero effort configuration. We verified the mode entanglement by measuring a Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt contextuality witness 𝑆 defined in the spin and energy subsystems, observing a clear breach of the classical bound of |𝑆|≤2, obtaining 𝑆=2.40±0.02. These entangled beams could enable alternative approaches for directly probing dynamics and entanglement in quantum materials whose low-energy excitation scales match those of the incident entangled neutron.@en

An ODS steel with nominal composition Fe–14Cr–2W–0.4Ti-0.3Y2O3 (wt.%) was produced by mechanical alloying and compacted by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) followed by hot cross rolling (HCR). To check the effects of thermal aging at relevant temperatures of operation in fusion power plants, the alloy was thermally aged at 873 K for 2000 h. In this work, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques are used for the advanced characterization of secondary phases and the oxide nanoparticle dispersion. SANS results show that the oxide nanoparticles remain stable after the thermal aging treatment. Composition of the oxide nanoparticles was identified as Y2TiO5 or Y2Ti2O7 by SANS, while non-stoichiometry was found by XAS analysis. Laves phase precipitation after the thermal aging treatment is further confirmed by SANS, from the magnetic anisotropic contribution to the scattering intensity associated to this metallic phase, and by XANES.@en

Cellulose membranes were prepared from an EMIMAc ionic liquid solution by nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) in coagulation baths of water–acetone mixtures, ethanol–water mixtures and water at different temperatures. High water volume fractions in the coagulation bath result in a highly reproducible gel-like structure with inhomogeneities observed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). A structural transition of cellulose takes place in water–acetone baths at very low water volume fractions, while a higher water bath temperature increases the size of inhomogeneities in the gel-like structure. These findings demonstrate the value of SANS for characterising and understanding the structure of regenerated cellulose films in their wet state. Such insights can improve the engineering and structural tuning of cellulose membranes, either for direct use or as precursors for carbon molecular sieve membranes.@en

We describe an experiment that strongly supports a two-path interferometric model in which the spin-up and spin-down components of each neutron propagate coherently along spatially separated parallel paths in a typical neutron spin-echo small-angle scattering (SESANS) experiment. Specifically, we show that the usual semi-classical, single-path treatment of Larmor precession of a polarized neutron in an external magnetic field predicts a damping as a function of the spin-echo length of the SESANS signal obtained with a periodic phase grating when the transverse width of the neutron wave packet is finite. However, no such damping is observed experimentally, implying either that the Larmor model is incorrect or that the transverse extent of the wave packet is very large. In contrast, we demonstrate theoretically that a quantum-mechanical interferometric model in which the two mode-entangled (i.e., intraparticle entangled) spin states of a single neutron are separated in space when they interact with the grating accurately predicts the measured SESANS signal, which is independent of the wave packet width.

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Chloride-based solid electrolytes are considered interesting candidates for catholytes in all-solid-state batteries due to their high electrochemical stability, which allows the use of high-voltage cathodes without protective coatings. Aliovalent Zr(iv) substitution is a widely applicable strategy to increase the ionic conductivity of Li₃M(iii)Cl₆ solid electrolytes. In this study, we investigate how Zr(iv) substitution affects the structure and ion conduction in Li_3−xIn_1−xZr_xCl₆ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5). Rietveld refinement using both X-ray and neutron diffraction is used to make a structural model based on two sets of scattering contrasts. AC-impedance measurements and solid-state NMR relaxometry measurements at multiple Larmor frequencies are used to study the Li-ion dynamics. In this manner the diffusion mechanism and its correlation with the structure are explored and compared to previous studies, advancing the understanding of these complex and difficult to characterize materials. It is found that the diffusion in Li₃InCl₆ is most likely anisotropic considering the crystal structure and two distinct jump processes found by solid-state NMR. Zr-substitution improves ionic conductivity by tuning the charge carrier concentration, accompanied by small changes in the crystal structure which affect ion transport on short timescales, likely reducing the anisotropy.

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The spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering (SESANS) technique utilises a series of inclined magnetic fields before and after the sample to encode the scattering angle into the polarisation to obtain a much higher resolution than in conventional SANS. The analogous technique (spin echo modulated SANS (SEMSANS)) implements spin manipulations before the sample only to encode the scattering into an intensity modulation. The technique can be combined with SANS to expand the length scale range probed from 1 nm to microns. Using McStas we show that using a series of four magnetic Wollaston prisms in two orthogonal pairs with a 90° rotation can be utilised to create SEMSANS modulations in 2-D. These modulations can also be of different periods in each encoding direction. This method can be applied to anisotropic scattering samples. Also this allows for the simultaneous measurement at two orthogonal independent spin-echo lengths. This technique yields directly information about the structure of oriented structures.

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The JCNS has been developing and using in-situ polarized neutron spin filters for many applications. The system used for analysis on MARIA and polarization for TOPAS were completed about 10 years ago with the MARIA system in standard operation for users and the TOPAS system employed for a long measurement on the POLI instrument. In the meantime we are progressing on several new in-situ polarizers based on these first two but with additional innovations. The KWS-1 analyzer device which was recently used in tests at TU Delft and ISIS is essentially a 50%-sized copy of the MARIA device. The two devices in construction for polarization and analysis on POLI for hot neutrons feature magic-boxes with angled plates on both the entrance and exit sides to minimize overal length and the polarizer device will employ an additional passive magnetic shield of soft iron so that it can operate inside the stray field area of a 8-T vertical (compensated) sample magnet. We will summarize the current status of our 3He neutron spin filters and provide extra focus on the technical aspects and measured performance characteristics of the new devices for KWS-1 and POLI in particular.

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Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) has attracted significant interest as a promising alternative to solvent-based polyurethane (SPU) due to its positive impact on safety and sustainability. However, significant limitations of WPU, such as its weaker mechanical strength, limit its ability to replace SPU. Triblock amphiphilic diols are promising materials to enhance the performance of WPU due to their well-defined hydrophobic-hydrophilic structures. Yet, our understanding of the relationship between the hydrophobic-hydrophilic arrangements of triblock amphiphilic diols and the physical properties of WPU remains limited. In this study, we show that by controlling the micellar structure of WPU in aqueous solution via the introduction of triblock amphiphilic diols, the postcuring efficiency and the resulting mechanical strength of WPU can be significantly enhanced. Small-angle neutron scattering confirmed the microstructure and spatial distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments in the engineered WPU micelles. In addition, we show that the control of the WPU micellar structure through triblock amphiphilic diols renders WPU attractive in the applications of controlled release, such as drug delivery. Here, curcumin was used as a model hydrophobic drug, and the drug release behavior from WPU-micellar-based drug delivery systems was characterized. It was found that curcumin-loaded WPU drug delivery systems were highly biocompatible and exhibited antibacterial properties in vitro. Furthermore, the sustained release profile of the drug was found to be dependent on the structure of the triblock amphiphilic diols, suggesting the possibility of controlling the drug release profile via the selection of triblock amphiphilic diols. This work shows that by shedding light on the structure-property relationship of triblock amphiphilic diol-containing WPU micelles, we may enhance the applicability of WPU systems and move closer to realizing their promising potential in real-life applications.

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Li₃YX₆(X = Cl, Br) materials are Li-ion conductors that can be used as solid electrolytes in all solid-state batteries. Solid electrolytes ideally have high ionic conductivity and (electro)chemical compatibility with the electrodes. It was proven that introducing Br to Li₃YCl₆increases ionic conductivity but, according to thermodynamic calculations, should also reduce oxidative stability. In this paper, the trade-off between ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability in Li₃YBr_xCl_6-xhalogen-substituted compounds is investigated. The compositions of Li₃YBr_1.5Cl_4.5and Li₃YBr_4.5Cl_1.5are reported for the first time, along with a consistent analysis of the whole Li₃YBr_xCl_6-x(x = 0-6) tie-line. The results show that, while Br-rich materials are more conductive (5.36 × 10^-3S/cm at 30 °C for x = 4.5), the oxidative stability is lower (∼ 3 V compared to ∼ 3.5 V). Small Br content (x = 1.5) does not affect oxidative stability but substantially increases ionic conductivity compared to pristine Li₃YCl₆(2.1 compared to 0.049 × 10^-3S/cm at 30 °C). This work highlights that optimization of substitutions in the anion framework provide prolific and rational avenues for tailoring the properties of solid electrolytes.

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Tailoring the solution chemistry of metal halide perovskites requires a detailed understanding of precursor aggregation and coordination. In this work, we use various scattering techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and spin-echo SANS (SESANS) to probe the nanostructures from 1 nm to 10 μm within two different lead-halide perovskite solution inks (MAPbI ₃and a triple-cation mixed-halide perovskite). We find that DLS can misrepresent the size distribution of the colloidal dispersion and use SANS/SESANS to confirm that these perovskite solutions are mostly comprised of 1-2 nm-sized particles. We further conclude that if there are larger colloids present, their concentration must be <0.005% of the total dispersion volume. With SANS, we apply a simple fitting model for two component microemulsions (Teubner-Strey), demonstrating this as a potential method to investigate the structure, chemical composition, and colloidal stability of perovskite solutions, and we here show that MAPbI ₃solutions age more drastically than triple cation solutions.

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Understanding the relationship between structure, ionic conductivity, and synthesis is the key to the development of superionic conductors. Here, a series of Li_3-3xM_1+xCl₆ (−0.14 < x ≤ 0.5, M = Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm) solid electrolytes with orthorhombic and trigonal structures are reported. The orthorhombic phase of Li–M–Cl shows an approximately one order of magnitude increase in ionic conductivities when compared to their trigonal phase. Using the Li–Ho–Cl components as an example, their structures, phase transition, ionic conductivity, and electrochemical stability are studied. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal the facile diffusion in the z-direction in the orthorhombic structure, rationalizing the improved ionic conductivities. All-solid-state batteries of NMC811/Li_2.73Ho_1.09Cl₆/In demonstrate excellent electrochemical performance at both 25 and −10 °C. As relevant to the vast number of isostructural halide electrolytes, the present structure control strategy guides the design of halide superionic conductors.

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The modulated intensity by zero effort small-angle neutron scattering (MI-SANS) technique is used to measure scattering with a high energy resolution on samples normally ill-suited for neutron resonance spin echo. The self-diffusion constant of water is measured over a q-t range of 0.01-0.2Å-1 and 70-500ps. In addition to demonstrating the methodology of using time-of-flight MI-SANS instruments to observe diffusion in liquids, the results support previous measurements on water performed with different methods. This polarized neutron technique simultaneously measures the intermediate scattering function for a wide range of time and length scales. Two radio frequency flippers were used in a spin-echo setup with a 100kHz frequency difference in order to create a high-resolution time measurement. The results are compared with self-diffusion measurements made by other techniques and the general applicability of MI-SANS at a pulsed source is assessed.

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The first measurements of magnetic correlation functions are presented using time-of-flight Spin-echo modulated small angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS) on the Larmor instrument at the ISIS pulsed neutron source. The accessible length scale is beyond that of the conventional SANS. A simplified model is presented to calculate the expected correlation functions for various magnetisation fields applied to the sample. As an example, we present the experimental data of a soft iron sample at various configurations of magnetisation field.

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We report the design, construction, and initial tests of a hyperpolariser to produce polarised ¹²⁹Xe and ³He gas for medical imaging of the lung. The hyperpolariser uses the Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping method to polarise the nuclear spins of the isotopic gas. Batch mode operation was chosen for the design to produce polarised ¹²⁹Xe and polarised ³He. Two-side pumping, electrical heating and a piston to transfer the polarised gas were some of the implemented techniques that are not commonly used in hyperpolariser designs. We have carried out magnetic resonance imaging experiments demonstrating that the ³He and ¹²⁹Xe polarisation reached were sufficient for imaging, in particular for in vivo lung imaging using ¹²⁹Xe. Further improvements to the hyperpolariser have also been discussed.

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