Phase identification neutron scattering

Thus, these mesostructures are predominantly lamellar, and identified as conventional (parabolic) lamellar phases, although they may in fact be hyperbolic. Indeed, unless v/al is exactly unity, a planar interface (lamellar mesophase) incurs a bending energy cost hyperbolic sponge monolayers or bilayers or mesh monolayer mesophases are favoured if v/al differs from unity. It is likely then that many "lamellar"" phases in fact adopt a hyperbolic geometry. Careful neutron-scattering studies of a lamellar phase have revealed the presence of a large number of hyperbolic "defects" (pores within the bilayers) in one case [16]. (An example of this mis-identification of hyperbolic phases in block copolymers is discussed in section 4.10.)... 

Other techniques used to identify the stracture of mesophases and liquid ciystalline mesophases include neutron scattering studies (usually of partially deuteriated samples) and nnclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies (particularly useful for analysing lyotropic liquid ciystal phases). However, this introductoiy chapter will concentrate on the most simple and most commonly nsed techniques for the identification of mesophases. 

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