The Study Of A Colloidal Crystal Using Ultra Small-Angle X-Ray-Scattering(USAXS)

USAXS, using the Bonse-Hart twin crystal diffractometer system, has been developed at a synchrotron source for the study of colloidal dispersions and other heterogeneous systems [1]. Many improvements have been made, and the full potential of this newsly enhanced scattering system in both scientific and industrial fields is only just beginning to be realised [2]. One well-characterised commercial colloidal dispersion, a highly monodisperse colloidal latex, has shown some very interesting results using the improved system. At high concentrations some sharp Bragg Peaks have been observed in the scattering profile. The eperimental structure factor for the colloidal latex clearly shows at least five scattering peaks, the positions of which may be used to identify the structure of the ordered colloid. This structure is thought to be randomly close packed