Direct imaging of dopant clustering in metal-oxide nanoparticles

Identifying and manipulating single atoms with scanning transmission electron microscopy

The manipulation of individual atoms has developed from visionary speculation into an established experimental science. Using focused electron irradiation in a scanning transmission electron microscope instead of a physical tip in a scanning probe microscope confers several benefits, including thermal stability of the manipulated structures, the ability to reach into bulk crystals, and the chemical identification of single atoms. However, energetic electron irradiation also presents unique challenges, with an inevitable possibility of irradiation damage. Understanding the underlying mechanisms will undoubtedly continue to play an important role to guide experiments. Great progress has been made in several materials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, and crystalline silicon in the eight years since the discovery of electron-beam manipulation, but the important challenges that remain will determine how far we can expect to progress in the near future.

Insights into ZnO-based doped porous nanocrystal frameworks

Colloidal nanocrystals play a vital role in several applications. The doping of cations in the nanocrystal matrix enhances the optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. The number and well-defined distribution of the dopant are crucial to protect the nanocrystal from clustering. The XRD, XPS, and XAS instruments reveal the change in the lattice parameters, chemical states, and local coordination environment information. In addition of detecting the position and distribution of the dopant, the 4D-STEM detector mode gathers all types of real-space atomic-resolution images by collecting all diffraction datasets from each electron probe with high-speed and efficient detection. Dopant-host ligand type, reactions conditions, and reaction time optimization during synthesis are critical for the host and dopant reactivity balance. Pearson's hard/soft acids/bases theory would be a base for balancing the solubility of the dopant-host in the given solvents/surfactant. In addition, tuning the colloidal nanocrystals to secondary structures, which enhances the mass-/ions transport, can contribute a combination of properties that do not exist in the original constituents.

Host sensitized lanthanide photoluminescence from post-synthetically modified semiconductor nanoparticles depends on reactant identity

This work investigates the photoluminescence characteristics where cadmium selenide (CdSe) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles are treated post-synthetically by the trivalent lanthanide cations (Ln³⁺) [Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb] separately to form either CdSe/Ln or ZnS/Ln nanoparticles. Host sensitized Ln³⁺ emission was found to be present only in CdSe/Eu, CdSe/Tb, ZnS/Eu, ZnS/Tb and ZnS/Yb nanoparticles. In all the cases tuning of emission of the nanoparticles has been observed, irrespective of the presence or absence of host sensitization. The elemental compositions of CdSe and ZnS nanoparticles upon post-synthetic treatment show a remarkable difference. Incorporation of lanthanides in the nanoparticles is evident with significant alteration in the anionic content, and complete cation exchange of either Cd²⁺ or Zn²⁺ by Ln³⁺ has not been detected; as evaluated from energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Further evaluation on this comes from considering thermodynamic parameters of inter cation interaction. In cases where the host sensitized Ln³⁺ emission have been observed, luminescence lifetime measurements reveal significant protection of Ln³⁺ in the nanoparticles. Noticeable difference in photophysical properties for a given Ln³⁺ has been realized in the two hosts. The photophysical observations have been rationalized using (i) charge trapping mediated host sensitized dopant emission, (ii) autoionization of excited electrons, and (iii) environment induced photoluminescence quenching. The post-synthetic modification discussed in the present work provides an easy and less synthetically demanding room temperature based protocol to avail lanthanide incorporated (doped) semiconductor nanoparticles that can potentially use the unique emission properties of the lanthanide cations.

Heterovalent Doping in Colloidal Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Cation-Exchange-Enabled New Accesses to Tuning Dopant Luminescence and Electronic Impurities

Heterovalent doping in colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (CSNCs), with provisions of extra electrons (n-type doping) or extra holes (p-type doping), could enhance their performance of optical and electronical properties. In view of the challenges imposed by the intrinsic self-purification, self-quenching, and self-compensation effects of CSNCs, we outline the progress on heterovalent doping in CSNCs, with particular focus on the cation-exchange-enabled tuning of dopant luminescence and electronic impurities. Thus, the well-defined substitutional or interstitial heterovalent doping in a deep position of an isolated nanocrystal has been fulfilled. We also envision that new coordination ligand-initiated cation exchange would bring about more choices of heterovalent dopants. With the aid of high-resolution characterization methods, the accurate atom-specific dopant location and distribution could be confirmed clearly. Finally, new applications, some of the remaining unanswered questions, and future directions of this field are presented.

Effects of small-angle mistilts on dopant visibility in ADF-STEM imaging of nanocrystals

Quantitative ADF-STEM imaging paired with image simulations has proven to be a powerful technique for determining the three dimensional location of substitutionally doped atoms in thin films. Expansion of this technique to lightly-doped nanocrystals requires an understanding of the influence of specimen mistilt on dopant visibility due to the difficulty of accurate orientation determination in such systems as well as crystal movement under the beam. In this study, the effects of specimen mistilt on ADF-STEM imaging are evaluated using germanium-doped silicon nanocrystals as model systems. It is shown that dopant visibility is a strong function of specimen mistilt, and the accuracy of specimen orientation is an important factor in the analysis of three-dimensional dopant location, but the sensitivity to mistilt can be weakened by increasing the STEM probe convergence angle and optimizing ADF detector inner angle.

Three-dimensional imaging of individual point defects using selective detection angles in annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy

We propose a new scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) technique that can realize the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of vacancies, lighter and heavier dopants with high precision. Using multislice STEM imaging and diffraction simulations of β-Ga₂O₃ and SrTiO₃, we show that selecting a small range of low scattering angles can make the contrast of the defect-containing atomic columns substantially more depth-dependent. The origin of the depth-dependence is the de-channeling of electrons due to the existence of a point defect in the atomic column, which creates extra "ripples" at low scattering angles. The highest contrast of the point defect can be achieved when the de-channeling signal is captured using the 20-40mrad detection angle range. The effect of sample thickness, crystal orientation, local strain, probe convergence angle, and experimental uncertainty to the depth-dependent contrast of the point defect will also be discussed. The proposed technique therefore opens new possibilities for highly precise 3D structural characterization of individual point defects in functional materials.

Elemental electron energy loss mapping of a precipitate in a multi-component aluminium alloy

The elemental distribution of a precipitate cross section, situated in a lean Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Ag-Ge alloy, has been investigated in detail by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and aberration corrected high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). A correlative analysis of the EELS data is connected to the results and discussed in detail. The energy loss maps for all relevant elements were recorded simultaneously. The good spatial resolution allows elemental distribution to be evaluated, such as by correlation functions, in addition to being compared with the HAADF image. The fcc-Al lattice and the hexagonal Si-network within the precipitates were resolved by EELS. The combination of EELS and HAADF-STEM demonstrated that some atomic columns consist of mixed elements, a result that would be very uncertain based on one of the techniques alone. EELS elemental mapping combined with a correlative analysis have great potential for identification and quantification of small amounts of elements at the atomic scale.

Experimental Evidence of the Origin of Nanophase Separation in Low Hole-Doped Colossal Magnetoresistant Manganites

While being key to understanding their intriguing physical properties, the origin of nanophase separation in manganites and other strongly correlated materials is still unclear. Here, experimental evidence is offered for the origin of the controverted phase separation mechanism in the representative La1-xCaxMnO3 system. For low hole densities, direct evidence of Mn(4+) holes localization around Ca(2+) ions is experimentally provided by means of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy. These localized holes give rise to the segregated nanoclusters, within which double exchange hopping between Mn(3+) and Mn(4+) remains restricted, accounting for the insulating character of perovskites with low hole density. This localization is explained in terms of a simple model in which Mn(4+) holes are bound to substitutional divalent Ca(2+) ions.

Assembly and Photocarrier Dynamics of Heterostructured Nanocomposite Photoanodes from Multicomponent Colloidal Nanocrystals

Multicomponent oxides and their heterostructures are rapidly emerging as promising light absorbers to drive oxidative chemistry. To fully exploit their functionality, precise tuning of their composition and structure is crucial. Here, we report a novel solution-based route to nanostructured bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) that facilitates the assembly of BiVO4/metal oxide (TiO2, WO3, and Al2O3) nanocomposites in which the morphology of the metal oxide building blocks is finely tailored. The combination of transient absorption spectroscopy-spanning from picoseconds to second time scales-and photoelectrochemical measurements reveals that the achieved structural tunability is key to understanding and directing charge separation, transport, and efficiency in these complex oxide heterostructured films.

Morphological evolution of 2D Rh nanoplates to 3D Rh concave nanotents, hierarchically stacked nanoframes, and hierarchical dendrites

Impurity doping has yielded a number of useful optical and catalytic alloy nanoparticles, by providing synthetic routes to unprecedented nanostructures. However, Zn is difficult to use as a dopant in alloy nanoparticles due to the difficulty in reduction, and therefore little has been reported on Zn-doped alloy nanoparticles and their potential applications. Herein we report an unusual role of the dopant Zn as a crystal growth modifying agent to cause the formation of novel concave Rh nanostructures, namely nanotents. We could further prepare unprecedented hierarchically stacked Rh nanoframes and dendritic nanostructures derived from them by understanding the role of various surface-stabilizing moieties. We also report the usage of new Rh nanostructures in selective hydrogenation of phthalimides.

Spectromicroscopic evidence of interstitial and substitutional dopants in association with oxygen vacancies in Sm-doped ceria nanoparticles

Dopant-induced structural differences and defects in Sm doped CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting room temperature ferromagnetism were investigated by complementary spectroscopic analysis, including X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure analysis, Raman spectroscopy and atomically resolved Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy-Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (STEM-EELS). The CeO2 NPs were prepared by precipitation methods with Sm/Ce ratios ranging from 0 to 0.17 and with typical sizes from 2 to 4 nanometers. These results demonstrated that the nature and the distributions of defects strongly depend on the concentrations of the dopants. Two regimes in the formation of these (Ce1-x, Smx)O2-δ NPs were observed. At lower dopant levels (x < 7%), Sm(3+) atoms mainly replace the Ce atoms in the (Ce(3+)-O(2-) vacancy) complexes which are present in ceria NPs. The dopants are unambiguously observed and localized as diluted by real space STEM-EELS spectromicroscopy done with atomic sensitivity. Nevertheless, this substitution induces a strong structural rearrangement and some Sm dopants are also observed as interstitials in association with Ce vacancies. At higher doping concentrations (x > 7%), a Sm rich phase in association with a high amount of oxygen vacancies is observed at the surface of the particles. It results in the formation of core-shell type nanoparticles with crystallographic continuities where a Sm doped CeO2-δ core is surrounded by a layer of typical (Ce0.7, Sm0.3)2O3 composition.

Growth and characterization of CNT-TiO2 heterostructures

A thriving field in nanotechnology is to develop synergetic functions of nanomaterials by taking full advantages of unique properties of each component. In this context, combining TiO2 nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offers enhanced photosensitivity and improved photocatalytic efficiency, which is key to achieving sustainable energy and preventing environmental pollution. Hence, it has aroused a tremendous research interest. This report surveys recent research on the topic of synthesis and characterization of the CNT-TiO2 interface. In particular, atomic layer deposition (ALD) offers a good control of the size, crystallinity and morphology of TiO2 on CNTs. Analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques such as electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in scanning transmission mode provides structural, chemical and electronic information with an unprecedented spatial resolution and increasingly superior energy resolution, and hence is a necessary tool to characterize the CNT-TiO2 interface, as well as other technologically relevant CNT-metal/metal oxide material systems.

Three-dimensional imaging of individual dopant atoms in SrTiO3

We report on three-dimensional (3D) imaging of individual Gd dopant atoms in a thin (∼2.3  nm) foil of SrTiO3, using quantitative scanning transmission electron microscopy. Uncertainties in the depth positions of individual dopants are less than 1 unit cell. The overall dopant concentration measured from atom column intensities agrees quantitatively with electrical measurements. The method is applied to analyze the 3D arrangement of dopants within small clusters containing 4-5 Gd atoms.

Direct evidence of stacking disorder in the mixed ionic-electronic conductor Sr4Fe6O12+δ

Determining the structure-to-property relationship of materials becomes particularly challenging when the material under investigation is dominated by defects and structural disorder. Knowledge on the exact atomic arrangement at the defective structure is required to understand its influence on the functional properties. However, standard diffraction techniques deliver structural information that is averaged over many unit cells. In particular, information about defects and order-disorder phenomena is contained in the coherent diffuse scattering intensity which often is difficult to uniquely interpret. Thus, the examination of the local disorder in materials requires a direct method to study their structure on the atomic level with chemical sensitivity. Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with atomic-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy, we show that the controversial structural arrangement of the Fe2O2+δ layers in the mixed ionic-electronic conducting Sr4Fe6O12+δ perovskite can be unambiguously resolved. Our results provide direct experimental evidence for the presence of a nanomixture of "ordered" and "disordered" domains in an epitaxial Sr4Fe6O12+δ thin film. The most favorable arrangement is the disordered structure and is interpreted as a randomly occurring but well-defined local shift of the Fe-O chains in the Fe2O2+δ layers. By analyzing the electron energy-loss near-edge structure of the different building blocks in the Sr4Fe6O12+δ unit cell we find that the mobile holes in this mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxide are highly localized in the Fe2O2+δ layers, which are responsible for the oxide-ion conductivity. A possible link between disorder and oxygen-ion transport along the Fe2O2+δ layers is proposed by arguing that the disorder can effectively break the oxygen diffusion pathways.