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Influence of the coagulation bath on the nanostructure of cellulose films regenerated from an ionic liquid solution

Tiihonen, L.V. (author), Bernardo, Gabriel (author), Dalgliesh, Robert M. (author), Mendes, Adélio (author), Parnell, S.R. (author)

Cellulose membranes were prepared from an EMIMAc ionic liquid solution by nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) in coagulation baths of water–acetone mixtures, ethanol–water mixtures and water at different temperatures. High water volume fractions in the coagulation bath result in a highly reproducible gel-like structure with...

journal article 2024

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Experimental evidence for the two-path description of neutron spin echo

McKay, S. (author), Irfan, A. A.M. (author), Le Thien, Q. (author), Geerits, N. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Dalgliesh, R. M. (author), Lavrik, N. V. (author), Kravchenko, I. I. (author), Ortiz, G. (author), Pynn, R. (author)

We describe an experiment that strongly supports a two-path interferometric model in which the spin-up and spin-down components of each neutron propagate coherently along spatially separated parallel paths in a typical neutron spin-echo small-angle scattering (SESANS) experiment. Specifically, we show that the usual semi-classical, single...

journal article 2024

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Structure Property Relationship of Micellar Waterborne Poly(Urethane-Urea): Tunable Mechanical Properties and Controlled Release Profiles with Amphiphilic Triblock Copolymers

Chen, Shuyi (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Kokalari, I. (author), Smith, Gregory N. (author), Zeng, Bing Hong (author), Way, Tun Fun (author), Chuang, Fu Sheng (author), Rwei, A.Y. (author)

Waterborne polyurethane (WPU) has attracted significant interest as a promising alternative to solvent-based polyurethane (SPU) due to its positive impact on safety and sustainability. However, significant limitations of WPU, such as its weaker mechanical strength, limit its ability to replace SPU. Triblock amphiphilic diols are promising...

journal article 2023

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Re-investigating the structure-property relationship of the solid electrolytes Li _3−xIn_1−xZr_xCl₆ and the impact of In-Zr(iv) substitution

van der Maas, E.L. (author), Famprikis, Theodosios (author), Pieters, S. (author), Dijkstra, Jonas P. (author), Li, Z. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Smith, Ronald I. (author), van Eck, Ernst R.H. (author), Ganapathy, S. (author), Wagemaker, M. (author)

Chloride-based solid electrolytes are considered interesting candidates for catholytes in all-solid-state batteries due to their high electrochemical stability, which allows the use of high-voltage cathodes without protective coatings. Aliovalent Zr(iv) substitution is a widely applicable strategy to increase the ionic conductivity of Li<sub...

journal article 2023

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Simulations and concepts for a 2-D spin-echo modulated SANS (SEMSANS) instrument

Parnell, S.R. (author), Berg, Sergi Van Den (author), Bolderink, G. (author), Bouwman, W.G. (author)

The spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering (SESANS) technique utilises a series of inclined magnetic fields before and after the sample to encode the scattering angle into the polarisation to obtain a much higher resolution than in conventional SANS. The analogous technique (spin echo modulated SANS (SEMSANS)) implements spin manipulations...

journal article 2023

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in-situ³He neutron spin filters at JCNS, status and updates

Babcock, E. (author), Salhi, Z. (author), Feoktystov, A. (author), Bannenberg, L.J. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Alba Venero, D. (author), Hutanu, V. (author), Thoma, H. (author), Xu, J. (author)

The JCNS has been developing and using in-situ polarized neutron spin filters for many applications. The system used for analysis on MARIA and polarization for TOPAS were completed about 10 years ago with the MARIA system in standard operation for users and the TOPAS system employed for a long measurement on the POLI instrument. In the...

journal article 2023

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Exploring Nanoscale Structure in Perovskite Precursor Solutions Using Neutron and Light Scattering

O'Kane, Mary (author), Smith, Joel (author), Kilbride, Rachel C. (author), Spooner, Emma L.K. (author), Duif, C.P. (author), Catley, Thomas E. (author), Washington, Adam (author), King, Stephen M. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Parnell, Andrew J. (author)

Tailoring the solution chemistry of metal halide perovskites requires a detailed understanding of precursor aggregation and coordination. In this work, we use various scattering techniques, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and spin-echo SANS (SESANS) to probe the nanostructures from 1 nm to 10...

journal article 2022

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A Series of Ternary Metal Chloride Superionic Conductors for High-Performance All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Liang, Jianwen (author), van der Maas, E.L. (author), Luo, Jing (author), Li, Xiaona (author), Chen, Ning (author), Adair, Keegan R. (author), Li, Weihan (author), Li, Junjie (author), Hu, Yongfeng (author), Liu, Jue (author), Zhang, Li (author), Zhao, W. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Ganapathy, S. (author), Wagemaker, M. (author)

Understanding the relationship between structure, ionic conductivity, and synthesis is the key to the development of superionic conductors. Here, a series of Li_3-3_xM₁₊_xCl₆ (−0.14 &lt; x ≤ 0.5, M = Tb, Dy, Ho, Y, Er, Tm) solid electrolytes with orthorhombic and trigonal structures are...

journal article 2022

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Investigation of Structure, Ionic Conductivity, and Electrochemical Stability of Halogen Substitution in Solid-State Ion Conductor Li₃YBr_xCl_{6- x}

van der Maas, E.L. (author), Zhao, W. (author), Cheng, Z. (author), Famprikis, T. (author), Thijs, M.A. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Ganapathy, S. (author), Wagemaker, M. (author)

Li₃YX₆(X = Cl, Br) materials are Li-ion conductors that can be used as solid electrolytes in all solid-state batteries. Solid electrolytes ideally have high ionic conductivity and (electro)chemical compatibility with the electrodes. It was proven that introducing Br to Li₃YCl₆increases ionic...

journal article 2022

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Probing magnetic correlations with spin-echo modulated small angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS)

Li, Fankang (author), Steinke, Nina J. (author), Dalgliesh, Robert M. (author), Washington, Adam L. (author), Shen, Jiazhou (author), Pynn, Roger (author), Parnell, S.R. (author)

The first measurements of magnetic correlation functions are presented using time-of-flight Spin-echo modulated small angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS) on the Larmor instrument at the ISIS pulsed neutron source. The accessible length scale is beyond that of the conventional SANS. A simplified model is presented to calculate the expected...

journal article 2021

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Time-of-flight modulated intensity small-angle neutron scattering measurement of the self-diffusion constant of water

Kuhn, Stephen J. (author), Geerits, Niels (author), Franz, Christian (author), Plomp, J. (author), Dalgliesh, Robert M. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author)

The modulated intensity by zero effort small-angle neutron scattering (MI-SANS) technique is used to measure scattering with a high energy resolution on samples normally ill-suited for neutron resonance spin echo. The self-diffusion constant of water is measured over a q-t range of 0.01-0.2Å-1 and 70-500ps. In addition to demonstrating the...

journal article 2021

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Neutron-state entanglement with overlapping paths

Kuhn, S. J. (author), McKay, S. (author), Shen, J. (author), Geerits, N. (author), Dalgliesh, R. M. (author), Dees, E. (author), Irfan, A. (author), Li, F. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author)

The development of direct probes of entanglement is integral to the rapidly expanding field of complex quantum materials. Here we test the robustness of entangled neutrons as a quantum probe by measuring the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt contextuality witness while varying the beam properties. Specifically, we show that the mode entanglement of...

journal article 2021

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Ionizing Radiation-Induced Release from Poly(ϵ-caprolactone- b-ethylene glycol) Micelles

Liu, H. (author), Laan, A.C. (author), Plomp, J. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Men, Y. (author), Dalgliesh, Robert M. (author), Eelkema, R. (author), Denkova, A.G. (author)

Polymeric micelles, due to their easy preparation and versatile properties, have been widely applied as one of the most popular carriers for chemotherapeutic agents. Such micelles primarily prevent the leakage of drugs during transportation and thus protect healthy tissue. Controlled drug release, which releases the drugs at the site of...

journal article 2021

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Hyperpolarised gas filling station for medical imaging using polarised ¹²⁹Xe and ³He

Lee, Wai Tung (author), Zheng, Gang (author), Talbot, Cavin L. (author), Tong, Xin (author), D'Adam, Tim (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), de Veer, Michael (author), Jenkin, Graham (author), Polglase, Graeme R. (author)

We report the design, construction, and initial tests of a hyperpolariser to produce polarised ¹²⁹Xe and ³He gas for medical imaging of the lung. The hyperpolariser uses the Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping method to polarise the nuclear spins of the isotopic gas. Batch mode operation was chosen for the design to produce...

journal article 2021

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Unveiling contextual realities by microscopically entangling a neutron

Shen, J. (author), Kuhn, S. J. (author), Dalgliesh, Robert M. (author), de Haan, V. O. (author), Geerits, N. (author), Irfan, A. A.M. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Plomp, J. (author), van Well, A.A. (author)

The development of qualitatively new measurement capabilities is often a prerequisite for critical scientific and technological advances. Here we introduce an unconventional quantum probe, an entangled neutron beam, where individual neutrons can be entangled in spin, trajectory and energy. The spatial separation of trajectories from...

journal article 2020

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Different agglomeration properties of PC₆₁BM and PC₇₁BM in photovoltaic inks-a spin-echo SANS study

Bernardo, Gabriel (author), Melle-Franco, Manuel (author), Washington, Adam L. (author), Dalgliesh, Robert M. (author), Li, Fankang (author), Mendes, Adélio (author), Parnell, S.R. (author)

Fullerene derivatives are used in a wide range of applications including as electron acceptors in solution-processable organic photovoltaics. We report agglomeration of fullerene derivatives in optically opaque solutions of PC₆₁BM and PC₇₁BM, with concentrations ranging from 30 mg mL^-1 up to 90 mg mL<sup>-1<...

journal article 2020

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Analysis of SESANS data by numerical Hankel transform implementation in SasView

Bakker, J.H. (author), Washington, Adam L. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), van Well, A.A. (author), Pappas, C. (author), Bouwman, W.G. (author)

SESANS data analysis has been implemented in the SasView software package, allowing SESANS experiments to be analyzed using a numerical Hankel transformation of isotropic small-angle scattering (SAS) models. The error of the numerical approximation is three orders of magnitude below typical experimental errors. All advanced data fitting...

journal article 2020

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Search for exotic spin-dependent couplings of the neutron with matter using spin-echo based neutron interferometry

Parnell, S.R. (author), van Well, A.A. (author), Plomp, J. (author), Dalgliesh, R. M. (author), Steinke, N. J. (author), Cooper, J. F.K. (author), Geerits, N. (author), Steffen, K. E. (author), Snow, W. M. (author)

Various theories beyond the Standard Model predict new particles with masses in the sub-eV range with very weak couplings to ordinary matter which can possess spin-dependent couplings to electrons and nucleons. We report null results of a search for possible exotic spin-dependent couplings of the neutron which could be induced by the exchange...

journal article 2020

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Mesoporous Silica Formation Mechanisms Probed Using Combined Spin-Echo Modulated Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SEMSANS) and Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS)

Schmitt, Julien (author), Zeeuw, Jan Joost (author), Zeeuw, Jan Joost (author), Plomp, J. (author), Bouwman, W.G. (author), Washington, Adam L. (author), Duif, C.P. (author), Thijs, M.A. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author)

The initial formation stages of surfactant-templated silica thin films which grow at the air-water interface were studied using combined spin-echo modulated small-angle neutron scattering (SEMSANS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The films are formed from either a cationic surfactant or nonionic surfactant (C16EO8) in a dilute...

journal article 2020

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Time of flight modulation of intensity by zero effort on Larmor

Geerits, N. (author), Parnell, S.R. (author), Thijs, M.A. (author), van Well, A.A. (author), Franz, C. (author), Washington, A. L. (author), Raspino, D. (author), Dalgliesh, R. M. (author), Plomp, J. (author)

A time-of-flight modulation of intensity by zero effort spectrometer mode has been developed for the Larmor instrument at the ISIS pulsed neutron source. The instrument utilizes resonant spin flippers that employ electromagnets with pole shoes, allowing the flippers to operate at frequencies up to 3 MHz. Tests were conducted at modulation...

journal article 2019