Editing Neutron diffraction (section)

== Applications ==

=== Study of hydrogen storage materials ===
Since neutron diffraction is particularly sensitive to lighter elements like [[hydrogen]], it can be used for its detection. It can play a role in determining the [[crystal structure]] and hydrogen binding sites within [[Hydride|metal hydrides]], a class of materials of interest for hydrogen storage applications. The order of hydrogen atoms in the [[Lattice (order)|lattice]] reflects the storage capacity and kinetics of the material.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ravnsbæk |first1=Dorthe B. |last2=Filinchuk |first2=Yaroslav |last3=Cerný |first3=Radovan |last4=Jensen |first4=Torben R. |date=2010 |title=Powder diffraction methods for studies of borohydride-based energy storage materials |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1524/zkri.2010.1357/html |journal=Zeitschrift für Kristallographie |language=en |volume=225 |issue=12 |pages=557–569 |doi=10.1524/zkri.2010.1357 |bibcode=2010ZK....225..557R |issn=0044-2968}}</ref>

=== Magnetic structure determination ===
Neutron diffraction is also a useful technique for determining magnetic structures in materials, as neutrons can interact with magnetic moments. It can be used to determine the [[Antiferromagnetism|antiferromagnetic]] structure of [[manganese oxide]] (MnO) using neutron diffraction. Neutron Diffraction Studies can be used to measure the [[magnetic moment]]. Orientation study demonstrates how neutron diffraction can detect the precise alignment of the magnetic moment in materials, something that is much more challenging with X-rays.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lines |first1=M. E. |last2=Jones |first2=E. D. |date=1965 |title=Antiferromagnetism in the Face-Centered Cubic Lattice. II. Magnetic Properties of MnO |url=https://journals.aps.org/pr/abstract/10.1103/PhysRev.139.A1313 |journal=Physical Review |language=en |volume=139 |issue=4A |pages=A1313–A1327 |doi=10.1103/PhysRev.139.A1313 |bibcode=1965PhRv..139.1313L |issn=0031-899X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Phase transition in ferroelectrics ===
Neutron diffraction has been widely employed to understand phase transitions in materials including [[ferroelectrics]], which show the transition of crystal structure with [[temperature]] or [[pressure]]. It can be utilised to study the ferroelectric [[phase transition]] in [[lead titanate]] (PbTiO<sub>3</sub>). It can be used to analyse [[Atomic displacement parameter|atomic displacements]] and corresponding lattice distortions. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jorio |first1=A. |last2=Currat |first2=R. |last3=Myles |first3=D. A. A. |last4=McIntyre |first4=G. J. |last5=Aleksandrova |first5=I. P. |last6=Kiat |first6=J. M. |last7=Saint-Grégoire |first7=P. |date=2000 |title=Ferroelastic phase transition in Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 : A neutron diffraction study |url=https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3857 |journal=Physical Review B |language=en |volume=61 |issue=6 |pages=3857–3862 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevB.61.3857 |issn=0163-1829|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Residual stress analysis in engineering materials ===
Neutron diffraction can be used as a technique for the nondestructive assessment of residual stresses in engineering materials, including [[Metal|metals]] and [[Alloy|alloys]]. Also used for measuring residual stresses in engineering materials.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jacob |first1=Anais |last2=Oliveira |first2=Jeferson |last3=Mehmanparast |first3=Ali |last4=Hosseinzadeh |first4=Foroogh |last5=Kelleher |first5=Joe |last6=Berto |first6=Filippo |date=2018 |title=Residual stress measurements in offshore wind monopile weldments using neutron diffraction technique and contour method |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0167844218300454 |journal=Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics |language=en |volume=96 |pages=418–427 |doi=10.1016/j.tafmec.2018.06.001|hdl=11250/2578469 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

=== Lithium-ion batteries ===
Neutron diffraction is especially useful for the investigation of [[lithium-ion battery]] materials, because lithium atoms are almost [[opaque]] to X-ray radiation. It can further be used to investigate the structural evolution of lithium-ion battery cathode materials during charge and discharge cycles.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ziesche |first1=Ralf F. |last2=Kardjilov |first2=Nikolay |last3=Kockelmann |first3=Winfried |last4=Brett |first4=Dan J.L. |last5=Shearing |first5=Paul R. |date=2022 |title=Neutron imaging of lithium batteries |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2542435121005766 |journal=Joule |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=35–52 |doi=10.1016/j.joule.2021.12.007|bibcode=2022Joule...6...35Z }}</ref>

=== High temperature superconductors ===
Neutron diffraction has played an important role in revealing the crystal and magnetic structures in high-temperature [[Superconductivity|superconductors]]. A neutron diffraction study of magnetic order in the high-temperature superconductor YBa<sub>2</sub>Cu<sub>3</sub>O<sub>6</sub>+x was done. The work of each of these scientific teams together with others across the globe has revealed the origins of the relationship between [[magnetic ordering]] and [[superconductivity]], delivering crucial insights into the mechanism of [[high-temperature superconductivity]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Moodenbaugh |first1=A. R. |last2=Cox |first2=D. E. |last3=Vining |first3=C. B. |last4=Segre |first4=C. U. |date=1984 |title=Neutron-diffraction study of magnetically ordered Er 2 Fe 3 Si 5 |url=https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.29.271 |journal=Physical Review B |language=en |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=271–277 |doi=10.1103/PhysRevB.29.271 |issn=0163-1829|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Mechanical behaviour of alloys ===
Advancements in neutron diffraction have facilitated in situ investigations into the mechanical deformation of alloys under load, permitting observations on the mechanisms of [[Deformation (engineering)|deformation]]. The deformation behavior of [[titanium alloys]] under mechanical loads can be investigated using in situ neutron diffraction. This technique allows real-time monitoring of lattice strains and phase transformations throughout deformation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sun |first1=C. |last2=Brown |first2=D.W. |last3=Clausen |first3=B. |last4=Foley |first4=D.C. |last5=Yu |first5=K.Y. |last6=Chen |first6=Y. |last7=Maloy |first7=S.A. |last8=Hartwig |first8=K.T. |last9=Wang |first9=H. |last10=Zhang |first10=X. |date=2014 |title=In situ neutron diffraction study on temperature dependent deformation mechanisms of ultrafine grained austenitic Fe–14Cr–16Ni alloy |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0749641913001447 |journal=International Journal of Plasticity |language=en |volume=53 |pages=125–134 |doi=10.1016/j.ijplas.2013.07.007|url-access=subscription }}</ref>[[File:Neutron diffraction; Ion channels (5888008521).jpg|thumb|Neutron diffraction, used along with molecular simulations, revealed that an ion channel's voltage sensing domain (red, yellow and blue molecule at center) perturbs the two-layered cell membrane that surrounds it (yellow surfaces), causing the membrane to thin slightly.]]
=== Neutron diffraction for ion channels ===
Neutron diffraction can be used to study ion channels, highlighting how neutrons interact with biological structures to reveal atomic details. Neutron diffraction is particularly sensitive to light elements like hydrogen, making it ideal for mapping water molecules, ion positions, and hydrogen bonds within the channel. By analysing neutron scattering patterns, researchers can determine ion binding sites, hydration structures, and conformational changes essential for ion transport and selectivity.