Introduction Neutron scattering is a uniquely sensitive probe for studying the structure and dynamics of materials on the atomic and molecular level. Neutron-based techniques cover an extremely wide range of applications, extending from nuclear physics to biology. Several of these techniques have been applied in catalysis research. The structure of hydrogenous layers and of molecules adsorbed in zeolites has been determined by neutron diffraction. Textural or clustering studies have been performed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The vibrational modes of catalysts and of adsorbed molecules have been measured by inelastic neutron scattering (INS). The rotational and translational motions of molecules have been characterized by quasielastic scattering (QENS). Other neutron techniques such as reflection and magnetic scattering have not been used so far in catalysis.
Interaction of Neutrons with MatterNeutrons interact with nuclei via very short-range nuclear forces. A neutron has both particle-like and wave-like properties: it has zero charge, spin 1/2, a mass slightly larger than that of a proton and a wavelength λ.The potential interest in neutrons, in contrast with other probes, lies in the fact that its wavelength matches interatomic distances and that its energy covers a wide References see page 981