57Fe Mössbauer Spectrometry to explore natural and artificial nanostructures

Abstract

Since its discovery in the middle of the twentieth century, 57Fe Mössbauer spectrometry has been increasingly applied to a variety of scientific topics, including fundamental and industrial ones, going from basic chemistry, materials science, earth sciences to biology and archeology. Indeed, its high atomic scale sensitivity to local order combined with easy and low cost facilities have convinced scientists to use this tool as a nice complement to other techniques. This article serves as an introduction to this special issue dedicated to the application of Mössbauer spectrometry to the study of both laboratory-made and natural materials, each with relevant specific properties: it shows that the significant contribution of this local probe technique is underlined for each type of material, allowing a better understanding of the synthesis mechanisms, the chemical and/or physical properties. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]