Liquid foams: New insights and perspectives from neutron and synchrotron scattering experiments
Leonardo Chiappisi
Abstract
Soft, light, and aesthetically captivating, yet often enigmatic, liquid foams represent highly complex and intriguing systems. Their intrinsic multi-scale structure requires the integration of multiple techniques to fully unveil their properties. This review provides a concise introduction to neutron and x-ray scattering experiments on liquid foams, focusing on their structural characterization at the sub-micrometer scale. In particular, small-angle scattering experiments for foam characterization are experiencing a renaissance in recent years, with emphasis placed on the breadth of information attainable through these methods. Additionally, it highlights recent advancements in the field and identifies several open challenges that could be addressed using neutron and synchrotron radiation.