Applications

Wombat can be used to study a range of materials including, novel hydrogen-storage materials for clean energy storage of the future, molecules for drug-delivery systems, negative-thermal-expansion materials (materials that contract upon heating) and materials for fusion reactors.

The properties of a material are linked to its atomic structure, which can be influenced by its environment. The effects of temperature, pressure and applied fields (magnetic or electric) on the atomic structure can affect the material's properties and can be measured by Wombat.

For example

• Phase transitions - by varying one or more of the temperature, applied magnetic/electric fields, or applied pressure, the properties in a material can be created or destroyed.

• Material formation - many materials undergo one or more chemical reactions as a function of time as they are formed eg. setting of cement.

• Materials that undergo Negative Thermal Expansion, that is they shrink when heated.

• Cyclic variations - materials periodically exposed to applied fields resulting in changes to the atomic structure.

• In situ studies to observe chemical reactions and other dynamic phenomena as they occur.