Experimental setup for simultaneous measurements of neutron diffraction and dielectric spectroscopy during crystallization of liquids

Here we present an experimental setup to obtain information on structural and dynamical changes in liquids during crystallization. This setup consists in a sample cell that allows performing simultaneous measurements of neutron diffraction and dielectric spectroscopy experiments. The capabilities of the technique have been probed by following in real time the crystallization process of a model liquid: the isopropanol. By performing the simultaneous experiment information can be obtained from both phases, amorphous and crystalline, and therefore it can provide a complete description of the changes occurring during a crystallization process. The use of this setup allowed us to demonstrate that a breakage of the hydrogen-bond network is a precursor step for the crystallization of isopropanol. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.