| Neutron scattering is an excellent method for probing the structure of molecules and nanoscale dispersions- especially dispersions of hydrocarbon materials. We use small angle neutron scattering (SANS) to study the structure and interactions of nanoscale dispersions of polymers, clays, asphaltenes, ferrofluids, and nanoemulsions. We investigate the phenomenon of multiple neutron scattering in complex fluids that strongly scatter neutrons, and we use neutron spin echo (NSE), a dynamic neutron scattering technique, to probe the diffusion of particulates in suspension at very small time and length scales. |
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 SANS pattern from a ferrofluid that has formed chain-like aggregates which are oriented along the applied magnetic field, B. The scattering from these aggregated chains of iron-oxide nanoparticles creates a streak in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. |
 SANS powder pattern from crystals of strongly repulsive nanoscale polymer spheres dispersed in deuterium oxide. The rings indicate that there are FCC crystallites which have strong local order between particles. |