Nanostructural characterisation of catalysts by SANS

A series of restructured clays used as catalysts in small-and large-scale chemical reactions, have been studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Analysis of the spectra provides detailed information both on the nanopore structure and the surface texture of these materials. Additionally, pillared inter-layered clays (PILCs) have a great potential for industrial utilisation in catalysis, sorption and separations. PILCs have been studied with contrast-matching SANS in order to independently resolve the structure of each phase since by matching the neutron scattering length density of the clay or the pillars, the scattering curve results only from the non-contrast matched phase.