The difference between neutron diffraction method and X-ray diffraction method
X-rays interact with electrons, so their scattering intensity on atoms is proportional to the Atomic number, while neutrons interact with atomic nuclei, and their scattering intensity on different atomic nuclei is not a function of monotonic change with values. In this way, neutrons are particularly suitable for determining the position of light elements in the lattice (X-ray sensitivity is insufficient) and the position of elements adjacent to values (X-ray is not easy to distinguish);
For the same element, neutrons can distinguish between different isotopes, which makes neutron diffraction have special advantages in certain aspects, especially in labeling and studying organic molecules using the difference between hydrogen and deuterium;
Neutron has magnetic moment, which can interact with atomic magnetic moment to produce neutron specific magnetic diffraction. Through magnetic diffraction analysis, the size and orientation of magnetic moment of magnetic atoms in magnetic material lattice can be determined, so neutron diffraction is an extremely important means to study magnetic structure;
Generally speaking, neutrons have much higher penetration than X-rays, making them more suitable for structural research under conditions such as high, low, and high pressures that require thick containers. The main disadvantage of neutron diffraction is the need for a special strong Neutron source, and because of the lack of source strength, it often requires larger samples and longer data collection time.
The time-of-flight diffraction method, which is based on the principle that neutrons of different wavelengths have different velocities (energies), is slightly different from the traditional method in experimental technology. It is mainly used on strong pulsed Neutron source such as accelerators.
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