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LINXS-ESS Guest Seminar: Small and Ultra Small Angle Scattering at ACNS, ANSTO: Case Studies in Structural Characterisation of Complex Materials with Jitendra Mata – NLF theme

 
 

Welcome to a LINXS-ESS seminar with NLF Guest Researcher Jitendra Mata from ANSTO, Australia!

When: Monday 20 May, 15:00 - 16:00 CET with mingle afterwards
Where: at LINXS (Scheelevägen 19, Lund), with digital participation possibility (Zoom). Registered participants (online-only) will receive a zoom-link the same day as the event.
Title: Small and Ultra Small Angle Scattering at ACNS, ANSTO: Case Studies in Structural Characterisation of Complex Materials
Speaker: Jitendra Mata, Associate professor and Instrument Scientist at Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Small and Ultra-small angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS, USAXS, SANS, USANS) are versatile techniques for investigating the nanoscale and microscale structure of hard and soft condensed materials such as minerals, alloys, magnetic materials, food, surfactants, polymers, proteins, colloids, and emulsions. These techniques have been exceptionally useful for studying complex materials with hierarchical structures in recent years. The use of small angle scattering (SAS) in combination with traditional techniques offers a unique insight into the structure, size, shape, and morphology of materials. Different processes such as aggregation, structural transitions, crystallisation, porosity, and phase separation can be directly studied using SAS. SAS techniques, well-established for characterisation at length scales ranging from 1 nm to 10 µm, are mostly nondestructive and particularly useful for studying systems in-situ and within complex sample environments. The use of deuterated molecules and partial deuteration has also enhanced the applicability of these methods for studying soft materials using SANS/USANS. In this talk, I will discuss the advantages and limitations of these techniques and provide examples of recent applications in various areas of science.

Australia is the home of state-of-the-art reactor-based SANS and USANS instruments known as Quokka, Bilby, and Kookaburra (at the ACNS, ANSTO). Combining these with on-site lab based SAXS instrument provides a versatile characterisation suite to study complex materials especially for industrial applications. ANSTO is known for its high-class neutron scattering based science, and associated exceptional sample environment options, as well as outstanding deuteration facility.

Reference: https://www.ansto.gov.au/facilities/australian-centre-for-neutron-scattering

 
 

Bio

Assoc. Prof. Jitendra Mata is a principal instrument scientist for the Kookaburra an Ultra Small Angle Neutron Scattering (USANS) instrument (since March 2017) and an instrument associate for the Quokka a Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) instrument (since July 2018) at Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Oranisation (ANSTO), Australia. He also holds adjunct associate professor position with School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia since August 2023. Dr Mata has been at ANSTO for > 14 years; working as an instrument scientist for the Quokka for 4 years, a research leader at ANSTO Minerals for 3 years, and as a postdoctoral research fellow at the ACNS for 2 years. He also worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at The Australian National University with Prof. John White for 3 years.

Dr Mata’s research concerns complex soft materials and has had industrial relevance since his PhD. He has investigated several areas of soft condensed matter science, such as surfactant and block copolymer solutions, emulsions, food proteins, hydrogels, and minerals. Dr Mata has co-authored more than 125 peer reviewed articles including 2 book chapters: all in high impact international journals. He has also published several scientific reports.

More information:

https://www.ansto.gov.au/people/dr-jitendra-mata

https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=_tFPHuEAAAAJ&hl=en

  • Expert (21+ years) of soft matter (colloids and interface, hydrogels, emulsions, surfactants, block co-polymer, food proteins) science.

  • Experienced scientific supervisor and research manager (12+ years).

  • Expert of USANS, SANS, USAXS, SAXS (Ultra-Small and Small Angle X-ray and Neutron Scattering techniques, nano and micro scale characterisation); colloid science techniques; and various classical and advanced analytical techniques.

ContacT

Please contact josefin.martell@linxs.lu.se for any practical questions.

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