Characterization Approaches for Solid Materials

This lecture covers the fundamental characterization approaches for solid materials, focusing on elemental analysis, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES), mass spectrometry (MS), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGAA), thermal analysis techniques like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and microscopy methods including scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The instructor explains the importance of elemental analysis in verifying material composition, the use of ICP OES and MS for different concentration ranges, and the surface sensitivity of EDX. Additionally, the lecture delves into the principles of neutron-based spectroscopies like inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS), highlighting their role in studying vibrations and rotations within materials.