Using the crystal structure, a comprehensive interpretation of the origin of ferroelectricity in the hydrogen bonded triglycine family of crystals is given. Our detailed analysis showed that the instability of nitrogen double well potential plays a driving role in the mechanism of the ferroelectric transitions in these crystals.

The crystal structure of ZTS has been determined by neutron diffraction with a finalR-value of 0.026. Using the structural parameters, the contributions from the structural groups to the linear optical susceptibility and linear electro-optic coefficients have been evaluated. Results showed a significant contribution from the hydrogen bonds in the structure.

Linear electro-optical tensor coefficients and optical susceptibility of tetragonal KNbO₃ are calculated using a formalism based on bond charge theory. Results are in close agreement with the experimental data. The covalent Nb–O bonding network comprising the distorted NbO₆ octahedral groups in the structure is found to be a major contributor to the electro-optic coefficients making these groups more sensitive to these properties than the KO₁₂ groups. The orientations of the chemical bonds play an important role in determining these properties.

Structural behaviour of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) at low temperatures has been investigated by neutron powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Analysis showed abnormal changes in the rotations of nitrate (NO₃) anions and thermal displacement parameters of the atoms near 220 K and 125 K. However, the basic lattice is compatible with the orthorhombic symmetry (space group Pbca) till 12 K. The fine, small-scale structural anomalies probably originate from freezing of reorientation of NO₃ ions from high-temperature disordered phase.

Titanium metal bodies have been prepared from the sintered powder compacts of TiO₂ by a novel molten salt electrochemical approach, known as FFC Cambridge process. The phase and compositional characterizations of both Ti and TiO₂ have been carried out by X-ray diffraction. The pore morphologies of sintered TiO₂ pellet and the metallic Ti pellet, obtained after electrochemical reduction have been studied by SANS over a scattering wave vector q range of $0.003–3.5$ nm^-1 using a double crystal diffractometer and a pin-hole collimated SANS instrument. In the case of reduced metal pellet, average pore size was found to be larger than that of the oxide pellet as the voids left behind after the oxygen atoms left the oxide matrix, could not coalesce.

Ceria powders were prepared by gel combustion process using cerium nitrate and hitherto unexplored amino acids such as aspartic acid, arginine and valine as fuels. The powders have been characterized by X-ray and laser diffraction. Cold pressed compacts of these powders have been sintered at 1250°C for 2 h. Internal pore microstructure of the sintered compacts has been investigated by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) over a scattering wave vector 𝑞 range of 0.003–0.17 nm^-1. The SANS profiles indicate surface fractal morphology of the pore space with fractal dimensionality lying between 2.70 and 2.76.

The morphology of carbon nanofoam samples comprising platinum nanoparticles dispersed in the matrix was characterized by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. Results show that the structure of pores of carbon matrix exhibits a mass (pore) fractal nature and the average radius of the platinum particles is about 2.5 nm. The fractal dimension as well as the size distribution parameters of platinum particles varies markedly with the platinum content and annealing temperature. Transmission electron micrographs of the samples corroborate the SANS and SAXS results.