Scattering methods
At the Institute of Crystallography, we use various methods of X-ray and neutron scattering to elucidate the structure and dynamics of materials and to derive structure-property relationships. We have some X-ray diffractometers to perform powder and single-crystal diffraction in the laboratory, as well as to make measurements of the pair distribution function. We also drive to synchrotron radiation sources in order to measure with a higher time resolution and greater brilliance. This allows, for example, a higher time resolution or the detection of low-concentration sample components. In addition, we use various methods of neutron diffraction in order to achieve a different interaction with the sample due to the different scattering cross-section of the neutrons with matter in contrast to X-rays. Here we focus on single-crystal diffraction, powder diffraction also with analysis of the pair distribution function, small-angle scattering and quasi-elastic neutron scattering at neutron reactors and spallation sources.
The scattering methods are briefly described below and which question we can answer with which method.
| Pair distribution function (PDF) | Single-crystal structure analysis |
| Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) | Large-scale research |
| Phase analysis and structure refinement |