Structure, Dynamics and Equilibrium Properties of Inorganic Colloids

Recent applications of neutron scattering techniques in the determination of the structure, dynamics and equilibrium properties of inorganic colloids are described, with particular reference to metal oxide sols and gels and clay colloids dispersed in water. Incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering (IQENS) is particularly valuable in the study of the dynamics and structure of protonated systems such as polynuclear metal cations, which form on hydrolysis of Al(III) and Zr(IV) in aqueous solution. Details of the structure, short-range order and interactions in concentrated oxide sols can be obtained from small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The non-equilibrium structure and alignment of rod-shaped particles under shear can be determined from anisotropic analysis of SANS measurements made in situ, as illustrated with sepiolite clay dispersions.