Advanced Neutron Tools for Soft and Bio Materials JRA - latest achievements

It is time for a summary of the achievements of this JRA, which aims to provide a wider range of experimental tools to make the best use of neutron scattering for soft and bio-materials.

Date: 25/09/2015
Source: nmi3.eu

Neutron techniques, especially neutron reflectivity, have recently offered high performance tools for the study of biological membranes. A great challenge for the future in the field is to succeed in standard production of model membranes, of recipes for specific deuteration and in the development of novel modelling methodology, including molecular scale information from MD simulations for the interpretation of neutron data.

This Joint Research Activity is developing a platform for model biological membranes, soft-material-specific sample environments and in-situ devices. The objective is to provide a wider range of experimental tools enabling to make the best use of neutron scattering for Soft and Bio-Materials, which have many possible applications in the areas of environment, energy and health.

For more information about the different tasks of this JRA please visit this page.

Achievements of each task

A platform for model biological membranes for structural and dynamical characterisations

D Lipids extraction
Technology improvement for unconstrained, deposited biomembranes
New method for fabricating the lower Self Assembled Monolayer (SAM) using chemically modified substrates surfaces
SAM of 100% coverage with defect-free bilayers on these surfaces

Kinetic/dynamic measurements in periodic external fields

Device for multi-angle, static and dynamic light scattering combined with small angle scattering
- 2 different scattering angles accessible simultaneously
Electrical Field cell with electrodes outside the sample cell
Pressure cells for Small Angle Neutron Scattering with sapphire windows and with TiZr material for larger sample volume for Neutron Spin Echo
Improved Stop Flow for smaller samples; better and faster homegeneization and thermalization

Cryostat 3D Render of the cryogen-free cryostat

Humidity chamber

Humidity cell with a factor of 5 improvement in humidity ratio (temperature) stabilization

Cryogen-free cryostat with sample changer for fast automatic data collection

Compact, modular, cryogen-free cryostat for multiple samples, with a separate sample space isolation vacuum and a cold head isolation vacuum
Thermal coupling to the cold head achieved by heat switches to realise fast cool down and warm up

Images

3D CAD view of the Stop-Flow observation head

Pressure cell with sapphire windows and Bridgman ring for SANS

Humidity Chamber

Finite element modeling of temperature

Humidity Chamber

Cryostat

3D Render of the cryogen-free cryostat

Electric field cell

Prototypes of electric field cell with electrodes outside the sample