Applications

Neutron reflectometry can be used to:

• Study soft matter in biological and chemical science:

- Examining how surfactants work (substances that affect surface characteristics)
    eg waterproofers, emulsifiers, lung surfactants in premature infants.

- The interactions of proteins and enzymes with biomimetic cell membranes (synthetic membrances used to model those in  living cells).

• Deliver critical information about polymer film composition, chemical properties and the quality of the film in conjunction with other surface sensitive techniques.

- Nanoscale plasma polymer surface coatings are key elements used in the development of new biotechnologies for tissue growth, bio-functionalisation, surface passivation and anti-biofouling, protein and antibody biosensors.

• Study processes occurring at surfaces and interfaces such as adsorption, corrosion, adhesion and inter-diffusion between layers to solve important industrial problems.

• Study thin-film magnetic devices to be used in future generations of computers, including magnetoresistive read head sensors and data storage films in hard drives as well as non-volatile magnetic random access memory devices.