Light scattering lab
Soft Matter at Interfaces

The main components of our light scattering instrument is a single mode diode laser (λ = 660 nm; up to 100 mW), a goniometer and a photodetector. An optional Nd:YAG laser (λ = 532 nm) for thermal excitation is available. A water bath thermostat adjusts and keeps the samples temperature between 10 and 60 °C. The setup allows for dynamic and static light scattering with a continuous scattering angle ranging from 30° to 110° fully automatically.

According to the used type of light scattering, information about particle shapes and sizes, polydispersity, the interaction between colloidal particles and the molecular weight can be achieved. In the field of polymer synthesis and microemulsions light scattering is an important method to characterize the samples. Thus, the diameter of microemulsion as well as the diameter and molecular weight of spherical shaped polymer particles can be measured.

Further information

  • Berne, B.J. Pecora R., Dynamic light scattering, Dover Publication, 2000, Toronto
  • Pusey, P. N. Dynamic Light Scattering, in: Neutrons, X-rays and Light: Scattering Methods Applied to Soft Condensed Matter, eds. P. Lindner, T. Zemb, Elsevier, 2002
  • Glatter, O. Static Light Scattering of large Systems, in: Neutrons, X-rays and Light: Scattering Methods Applied to Soft Condensed Matter, eds. P. Lindner, T. Zemb, Elsevier, 2002

Lab impressions