On 20 November 2024, at 4:00 PM, the Association of Young Scientists and Specialists at JINR invites everyone interested to the next seminar that will take place in the Big Hall of the JINR Scientists’ Club (6, Joliot-Curie street, left side).

A senior researcher at the Laboratory of Neutron Physics at JINR, PhD Alexander Nezvanov will deliver a presentation “Characterising nanomaterial properties using neutron methods”.

Today, many neutron research centres around the world are striving to increase the range of useful neutrons by reducing their energy. Such neutrons are very promising for fundamental research and condensed matter study. Progress in this area is limited by the relatively small share of low-energy neutrons in the total flux and the low efficiency of their delivery to research facilities. As soon as the neutron wavelength reaches the interatomic distance, low-energy neutrons interact less effectively with homogeneous media and pass through reflectors, which negatively affects the efficiency of their delivery to experimental facilities. Using nanodispersed media consisting of particles of several nanometers solves this issue. Cold and very cold neutrons are reflected from such materials diffusely due to intense coherent elastic scattering on an ensemble of nuclei, i.e. individual nanoparticles.

The Laboratory of Neutron Physics at JINR is developing unique nanostructured reflectors of cold and very cold neutrons based on detonation nanodiamonds, unparalleled in the world. The use and further optimisation of the parameters of such neutron reflectors require powerful complementary methods for characterising their properties. The most natural way to do this is to use neutrons.

The seminar will cover information on the opportunities of using neutron methods for structural, elemental, and molecular analysis of nanomaterials, including determination of crystal lattice parameters, size distribution, clustering, presence of functional groups, metallic and other impurities on the surface of nanoparticles, and concentrations of nitrogen vacancies. The speaker will use the example of nanodiamonds.

To join the event on 20 November, please fill in the form via the link.