NEUTRON DIFFRACTION STUDIES OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES

The difference methods of neutron diffraction and isotopic substitution (NDIS) are shown to provide quantitative information on inter atomic structure of water and aqueous electrolyte solutions. Moreover, the penetrating power of neutrons is seen to be particularly well-suited to studies under non-ambient conditions. A brief summary is presented of results which have recently been obtained for supercritical H₂O at 400°C, and for an aqueous (heavy water) solution of nickel sulphate at 300°C and 1 kbar.