Preliminary experiments on apparatus for in situ studies of microwave-driven reactions by small angle neutron scattering

In this article we describe apparatus for the study of the microwave-driven growth of particles in solution by in situ small angle neutron scattering (SANS). This apparatus has enabled the first preliminary experiments using microwave-activated in situ diffraction. We take iron oxide as the prototype system, but the technique may be extended to a wide variety of chemical reactions that deposit solids from solution. The key features of the apparatus are a microwave cavity with a modular construction that may be adapted to the geometric constraints of the diffractometer, and a computer-controlled microwave generator that may be set to maintain either constant pressure or temperature in the reaction vessel. In this particular piece of equipment the reaction vessel is adapted so that part of the sample fills a cell of identical construction to those commonly used in SANS measurements for optimal transmission of the neutron beam.