NEUTRON REFLECTION FROM MOLECULAR FILMS. R.K. Thomas, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University, UK

Neutron reflection has become a very effective technique for studying molecular layers at soft interfaces, particularly those involving liquids. The effective resolution can be greatly enhanced by using isotopic labelling as a means of determining intralayer distances and it is now possible to determine molecular conformations, especially of hydrocarbon chains, at disordered interfaces.

The method of using isotopic substitution in conjunction with neutron reflection will be illustrated by examples of structure determination at air/liquid and solid/liquid interfaces.