Journal Article

FZJ-2020-04270

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png 3D printed spherical environmental chamber for neutron reflectometry and grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering experiments

Widmann, T. ; Kreuzer, L. P. ; Mangiapia, G. ; Haese, M. ; Frielinghaus, H.FZJ* ; Müller-Buschbaum, P. (Corresponding author)

2020
American Institute of Physics [S.l.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26148  doi:10.1063/5.0012652

Abstract: In neutron scattering on soft matter, an important concern is the control and stability of environmental conditions surrounding the sample. Complex sample environment setups are often expensive to fabricate or simply not achievable by conventional workshop manufacturing. We make use of state-of-the-art 3D metal-printing technology to realize a sample environment for large sample sizes, optimized for investigations on thin film samples with neutron reflectometry (NR) and grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS). With the flexibility and freedom of design given by 3D metal-printing, a spherical chamber with fluidic channels inside its walls is printed from an AlSi10Mg powder via selective laser melting (SLM). The thin channels ensure a homogeneous heating of the sample environment from all directions and allow for quick temperature switches in well-equilibrated atmospheres. In order to optimize the channel layout, flow simulations were carried out and verified in temperature switching tests. The spherical, edgeless design aids the prevention of condensation inside the chamber in case of high humidity conditions. The large volume of the sample chamber allows for high flexibility in sample size and geometry. While a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurement through the chamber walls reveals a strong isotropic scattering signal resulting from the evenly orientated granular structure introduced by SLM, a second SANS measurement through the windows shows no additional background originating from the chamber. Exemplary GISANS and NR measurements in time-of-flight mode are shown to prove that the chamber provides a stable, background free sample environment for the investigation of thin films.

Keyword(s): Instrument and Method Development (1st) ; Soft Condensed Matter (2nd)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. JCNS-FRM-II (JCNS-FRM-II)
2. Neutronenstreuung (JCNS-1)
3. Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (POF3-623) (POF3-623)
2. 6G15 - FRM II / MLZ (POF3-6G15) (POF3-6G15)

Experiment(s):

1. KWS-1: Small angle scattering diffractometer (NL3b)
2. REFSANS: Horizontal TOF Reflectometer with GISANS option (NL2b)

Appears in the scientific report 2020

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Database coverage:
; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; National-Konsortium ; Nationallizenz ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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