Structure analysis of condensed matter using scattering of a focused x-ray beam after passing through the sample. Yields information on the sizes or shapes of particles with characteristic dimensions of up to 100 nm, and on the internal structure of disordered or partially ordered systems
Applications: polymer gels and soft materials, biocompatible polymers, pharmaceutical materials (drug delivery), food (emulsifiers and stabilizers), nano-sized inorganic particles in cosmetics, paints or ceramics, nanocomposites, liquid crystals, proteins, biological membranes, building materials
