TY - JOUR AU - Dronskowski, Richard AU - Brückel, Thomas AU - Kohlmann, Holger AU - Avdeev, Maxim AU - Houben, Andreas AU - Meven, Martin AU - Hofmann, Michael AU - Kamiyama, Takashi AU - Zobel, Mirijam AU - Schweika, Werner AU - Hermann, Raphaël P. AU - Sano-Furukawa, Asami TI - Neutron diffraction: a primer JO - Zeitschrift für Kristallographie / Crystalline materials VL - 20 IS - 5-6 SN - 2194-4946 CY - Berlin PB - De Gruyter M1 - FZJ-2024-03258 SP - 139 - 166 PY - 2024 AB - Because of the neutron’s special properties, neutron diffraction may be considered one of the most powerful techniques for structure determination of crystalline and related matter. Neutrons can be released from nuclear fission, from spallation processes, and also from low-energy nuclear reactions, and they can then be used in powder, time-of-flight, texture, single crystal, and other techniques, all of which are perfectly suited to clarify crystal and magnetic structures. With high neutron flux and sufficient brilliance, neutron diffraction also excels for diffuse scattering, for in situ and operando studies as well as for high-pressure experiments of today’s materials. For these, the wave-like neutron’s infinite advantage (isotope specific, magnetic) is crucial to answering important scientific questions, for example, on the structure and dynamics of light atoms in energy conversion and storage materials, magnetic matter, or protein structures. In this primer, we summarize the current state of neutron diffraction (and how it came to be), but also look at recent advances and new ideas, e.g., the design of new instruments, and what follows from that. LB - PUB:(DE-HGF)16 UR - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:001209070300001 DO - DOI:10.1515/zkri-2024-0001 UR - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1026002 ER -