SAXS for Inorganic Materials
Inorganic materials develop complex internal architectures as they are synthesized, processed, or exposed to heat, pressure, or chemical environments. During processing, oxides first reorganize during calcination, while ceramics densify as their grain and pore structures evolve. Then, layered minerals adjust their interlayer spacing as they hydrate or exfoliate. Meanwhile, fillers in composites distribute throughout the matrix, governing mechanical, barrier, and thermal performance. Understanding these structural transformations is key to controlling functionality in catalysis, filtration, coatings, and advanced composites.
Small-Angle and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS/WAXS) provide direct insight into these structural evolutions under realistic conditions. Scattering techniques quantify pore networks, aggregation states, and crystallite dimensions.
They also measure interlayer distances and hierarchical organization in powders, ceramics, films, and composite matrices. In addition, grazing-incidence geometries probe surfaces, while USAXS extends the accessible size range. These methods capture structural transitions that imaging or microscopy alone cannot detect. SAXS/WAXS thus enable the design, optimization, and quality control of a wide range of inorganic systems by linking nanoscale architecture to macroscopic performance.
Questions you can answer with SAXS for Inorganic Materials
How do catalytic nanoparticles rearrange or coarsen during activation or thermal treatment, and which early structural changes forecast a loss in activity?
Which nanoscale precipitates form during alloy hardening, and how do their size and distribution evolve during heat treatment or service exposure?
How does the pore network in ceramic or cement-based materials develop as they hydrate, dry, or cure, and which structural signatures reflect strength or durability?
How do oxide clusters or grains assemble and densify during calcination or synthesis, and what aggregation patterns emerge as temperature increases?
How do thin inorganic or hybrid films nucleate and grow on substrates, and which nanoscale features mark the transition from disordered islands to ordered crystalline layers?
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