Scattering perspectives on nanostructural inhomogeneity in polymer network gels

Scattering methods based on spatial and temporal contrast fluctuations in polymer-network gels, which originate from polymer-segmental density fluctuations, reveal rich insight into different types and levels of nanostructural inhomogeneity in these soft materials. Complementary contrasting as provided by light, neutron, and X-ray scattering allows such information to be obtained on nano- to micrometer length scales. On top of that, complementary use of static and dynamic scattering methods allows the interplay and effect of these inhomogeneities to be unraveled. This article interrelates a multitude of studies on the application of scattering techniques for analytical assessment of structural inhomogeneity in polymer-network gels conducted since the 1970s.