Structural insights into soft matter materials via spin echo small angle neutron scattering and small angle neutron scattering

The recent advancements in neutron scattering technologies in China, with the development of China's first Spin-Echo Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SESANS) spectrometer at China Mianyang Research Reactor (CMRR) and the integration of a Very Small Angle Neutron Scattering (VSANS) instrument at China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), have significantly bolstered the nation's scientific capabilities. This review aims to highlight the distinctive features and applications of SESANS and SANS, and to offer a valuable contribution by demonstrating how SESANS and SANS can be leveraged for the study of soft matters and solid-state materials, with a particular emphasis on the benefits of techniques such as chain labeling, contrast variation, and contrast matching. We also aim to illustrate what types of information can be gleaned from these methods. The review is structured to first introduce the general concepts of SANS and SESANS, followed by a discussion on the information these techniques can provide. Then the applications of these techniques, in combination with other techniques, on various material investigations will be demonstrated. The review concludes with a summary and future perspectives, aiming to inspire further interdisciplinary research and collaboration, and beneficial to a broader audience.