• Magnetism: determination of magnetic structure, study of spin reorientation transitions
• Phase transitions investigated by thermodiffractometry
• Times resolved experiments Kinetics studies
• Dynamical studies in solid state chemistry
• In situ neutron diffraction
• In-situ chemistry, Chemical intercalation : via solid-gas reaction
• Texture Analysis
• Physisorption

Magnetism

Determination of magnetic structure. Study of the thermal evolution of magnetic structures in different materials : intermetallic compounds, oxydes (ferrites, manganites, cobaltite…). The stability of the detector together with the long wavelength 2.52 Angstroems and the possibility to measure Bragg reflection at low angle with a high counting rate and a Gaussian peak shape are the mains advantages of D1B to investigate the magnetic structures. Due to the stability and the high counting rate low magnetic reflection as well as low magnetic moment can be determined, specially in presence of strongly correlated systems, Kondo effect or magnetic moment reduction by crystal electric field effects. Magnetic investigations can also be performed under an applied magnetic field or under pressure.

Study of spin reorientation transitions by recording the thermal evolution of the neutron diffraction pattern (thermodiffratometry).

Magnetic investigation under mechanical pressure or versus an applied field can also be studied in order to determine the magnetic phase diagram of selected compounds. An electromagnetic is available on D1B and for higher field a superconducting magnet can be used.

Examples

Example 1 : Neutron diffraction investigation of the magnetic structure of Nd₆Fe₁₃Si
Example 2 : Neutron diffraction investigation of the magnetic structures of MnRhAs
Example 3 : Magnetic order and superconducting properties of Ho_xY_1-xNi₂¹¹B₂C
Example 4 : Antiferromagnetism in icosahedral quasicrystals

Texture Analysis

Mounting a 4 circles goniometer, quantitative texture analysis can be easily performed in a rather short time thanks to the large position sensitive detector.

Physisorption

Structureof solid layers absorbed from liquid deuterium, alcane, alcoholes and acids on graphite, fullerene or nanotubes.
In situ neutron diffraction study of the D₂ sorption in porous doped carbons (activated carbon and Single Wall Nano Tubes) intercalation compounds ( in the range 300 to 10K)

Chemical intercalation : via solid-gas reaction

Crystal structure investigation or determination of medium complexity structures. Localisation of substituted element in a known crystal structure. Study of the insertion of interstitial elements ( H, C, N…) within the crystal lattice.

Example 1 : Intercalation of tetrahydrofurane (THF) in CsC₂₄

Phase transitions investigated by thermodiffractometry

Investigation of structural transition : crystallization of amorphous compounds (glasses, quasicrystal…), growth of nanocrystalline grains, dehydration …
Change of crystal symmetry upon heating or cooling. Order-disorder phase transition.

Examples

Example 1 : Study of the ferrodistorsive orbital ordering in NaNiO₂ by neutron diffraction
Example 2 : Thermal evolution of the neutron diffraction pattern
Example 3 : The Hydration of Portland cement

Times resolved experiments

Kinetics Dynamical studies in solid state chemistry or solid state physics : The examples of such use of D1B are numerous and spread in various different research field from fundamental research to industrial applications. Among these one can cite :
Electrochemical reaction Evolution of the charge or discharge of a battery electrode.
Solid gaz reaction : Hydrogen insertion or desorption in intermetallic compounds, nitrogenation or oxydation of different materials.
Fast acquisition can be performed in the minute range, in order to follow the time dependance of the sample during any reaction.

Examples

Example1 : In situ neutron diffraction study of negative electrode materials for Ni-MH batteries
Example 2 : In situ neutron diffraction study of the nickel oxyhydroxide electrode
Example 3 : Time-resolved Neutron Powder Diffraction
Example 4 : Electrolysis in batteries