1
|
O'Reilly T, Holsgrove KM, Zhang X, Scott JJR, Gaponenko I, Kumar P, Agar J, Paruch P, Arredondo M. The Effect of Chemical Environment and Temperature on the Domain Structure of Free-Standing BaTiO 3 via In Situ STEM. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303028. [PMID: 37607120 PMCID: PMC10582436 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Ferroelectrics, due to their polar nature and reversible switching, can be used to dynamically control surface chemistry for catalysis, chemical switching, and other applications such as water splitting. However, this is a complex phenomenon where ferroelectric domain orientation and switching are intimately linked to surface charges. In this work, the temperature-induced domain behavior of ferroelectric-ferroelastic domains in free-standing BaTiO3 films under different gas environments, including vacuum and oxygen-rich, is studied by in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). An automated pathway to statistically disentangle and detect domain structure transformations using deep autoencoders, providing a pathway towards real-time analysis is also established. These results show a clear difference in the temperature at which phase transition occurs and the domain behavior between various environments, with a peculiar domain reconfiguration at low temperatures, from a-c to a-a at ≈60 °C. The vacuum environment exhibits a rich domain structure, while under the oxidizing environment, the domain structure is largely suppressed. The direct visualization provided by in situ gas and heating STEM allows to investigate the influence of external variables such as gas, pressure, and temperature, on oxide surfaces in a dynamic manner, providing invaluable insights into the intricate surface-screening mechanisms in ferroelectrics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin O'Reilly
- School of Mathematics and PhysicsQueen's University BelfastBelfastBT7 1NNUK
- University of GlasgowGlasgowG12 8QQUK
| | | | - Xinqiao Zhang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | - John J. R. Scott
- School of Mathematics and PhysicsQueen's University BelfastBelfastBT7 1NNUK
| | | | - Praveen Kumar
- School of Mathematics and PhysicsQueen's University BelfastBelfastBT7 1NNUK
- Shared Instrumentation FacilityColorado School of MinesGoldenCO80401USA
| | - Joshua Agar
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and MechanicsDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPA19104USA
| | | | - Miryam Arredondo
- School of Mathematics and PhysicsQueen's University BelfastBelfastBT7 1NNUK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pivak Y, Sun H, van Omme T, Bladt E, Pérez-Garza HH, Conroy M, Molina-Luna L. Development of a Stable Cryogenic In Situ Biasing System for Atomic Resolution (S)TEM. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:1695. [PMID: 37613892 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad067.873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yevheniy Pivak
- DENSsolutions, Informaticalaan 12, Delft, TheNetherlands
| | - Hongyu Sun
- DENSsolutions, Informaticalaan 12, Delft, TheNetherlands
| | - Tijn van Omme
- DENSsolutions, Informaticalaan 12, Delft, TheNetherlands
| | - Eva Bladt
- DENSsolutions, Informaticalaan 12, Delft, TheNetherlands
| | | | - Michelle Conroy
- Michelle Conroy, Department of Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London, London, The United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang B, Kong T, Zhang C, Mi X, Chen H, Guo X, Zhou X, Ji M, Fu Z, Zhang Z, Zheng H. Plasmon driven nanocrystal transformation in low temperature environments. NANOSCALE 2022; 14:16314-16320. [PMID: 36305203 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr03887k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The preparation and modification of crystal structures in cryogenic environments with conventional methods is challenging, but it is essential for the development of composite materials, energy savings, and future human space exploration. Plasmon induced hot carriers and local thermal effects help to overcome the challenges of chemical reactions under extreme conditions, for which molecular reactions have attracted considerable research attention. In this work, the plasmon thermal effect enables fast and efficient nanocrystal transformation in cryogenic environments, which was previously unattainable with conventional heating methods. The transformation of NaYF4 nanocrystals on gold nanoparticle island films can be achieved even in a low temperature environment of 11 K. Compared with the structure with gold nanoparticles adhered to NaYF4 nanocrystals directly, the structure of gold nanoparticle island films with an Al2O3 layer offered better heat trapping properties, which allows the complete transformation to take place of NaYF4 nanocrystals into Y2O3 nanocrystals in low temperature environments. This work explores the potential of applying the photothermal effect of a plasmon to induce rapid transformation of nanocrystals in extreme environments and provides insight into the process of crystal transformation and growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baobao Zhang
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Ting Kong
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Chengyun Zhang
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Xiaohu Mi
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Huan Chen
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Xiaojun Guo
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Xilin Zhou
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Min Ji
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Zhengkun Fu
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Zhenglong Zhang
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| | - Hairong Zheng
- School of Physics and Information Technology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Campbell S, Duchamp M, Ford B, Jones M, Nguyen LL, Naylor MC, Xu X, Maiello P, Zoppi G, Barrioz V, Beattie NS, Qu Y. Recovery Mechanisms in Aged Kesterite Solar Cells. ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS 2022; 5:5404-5414. [PMID: 35647491 PMCID: PMC9131304 DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.1c03247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
For successful long-term deployment and operation of kesterites Cu2ZnSn(S x Se1-x )4 (CZTSSe) as light-absorber materials for photovoltaics, device stability and recovery in kesterite solar cells are investigated. A low-temperature heat treatment is applied to overcome the poor charge extraction that developed in the natural aging process. It is suggested that defect states at aged CZTSSe/CdS heterojunctions were reduced, while apparent doping density in the CZTSSe absorber increased due to Cd/Zn interdiffusion at the heterojunction during the annealing process. In situ annealing experiments in a transmission electron microscope were used to investigate the elemental diffusion at the CZTSSe/CdS heterojunction. This study reveals the critical role of heat treatment to enhance the absorber/Mo back contact, improve the quality of the absorber/buffer heterojunction, and recover the device performance in aged kesterite thin-film solar cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Campbell
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Martial Duchamp
- Laboratory
for In Situ and Operando Electron Nanoscopy, School of Materials Science
and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637371 Singapore
| | - Bethan Ford
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Michael Jones
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Linh Lan Nguyen
- Laboratory
for In Situ and Operando Electron Nanoscopy, School of Materials Science
and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637371 Singapore
| | - Matthew C. Naylor
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Xinya Xu
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Pietro Maiello
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Guillaume Zoppi
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Vincent Barrioz
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Neil S. Beattie
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| | - Yongtao Qu
- Department
of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle
upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United
Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Weng S, Li Y, Wang X. Cryo-EM for battery materials and interfaces: Workflow, achievements, and perspectives. iScience 2021; 24:103402. [PMID: 34849466 PMCID: PMC8607198 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has demonstrated its power and essential role in probing the beam-sensitive battery materials and delivering new insights. With the increasing interest in cryo-EM for battery materials and interfaces, herein we provide the strategies of obtaining fresh and native structural information with minimal artifacts, including sample preparation, transferring, imaging, and data interpretation. We summarize the recent achievements enabled by cryo-EM and point out some unsolved/potential questions in terms of the bulk materials, solid-solid interface, and solid-liquid interfaces of batteries. Finally, we conclude with perspectives on the future developments and applications of cryo-EM in battery materials and interfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suting Weng
- Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Electron Microscopy, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yejing Li
- Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Electron Microscopy, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Electron Microscopy, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Tianmu Lake Institute of Advanced Energy Storage Technologies Co. Ltd., Liyang, Jiangsu 213300, China
| |
Collapse
|