1
|
Atomically resolved tomographic reconstruction of nanoparticles from single projection: Influence of amorphous carbon support. Ultramicroscopy 2020; 221:113177. [PMID: 33290981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2020.113177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nanoparticles have a wide range of applications due to their unique geometry and arrangement of atoms. For a precise structure-property correlation, information regarding atomically resolved 3D structures of nanoparticles is utmost beneficial. Though modern aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopes can resolve atoms with the sub-angstrom resolution, an atomic-scale 3D reconstruction of a nanoparticle using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) based tomographic method faces hurdles due to high electron irradiation damage and "missing-wedge". Instead, inline 3D holography based tomographic reconstructions from single projection registered at low electron doses is more suitable for defining atomic positions at nanostructures. Nanoparticles are generally supported on amorphous carbon film for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) experiments. However, neglecting the influence of carbon film on the tomographic reconstruction of the nanoparticle may lead to ambiguity. To address this issue, the effect of amorphous carbon support was quantitatively studied using simulations and experiments and it was revealed that increasing thickness and/or density of carbon support increases distortion in tomograms.
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Atom probe tomography is a well-established analytical instrument for imaging the 3D structure and composition of materials with high mass resolution, sub-nanometer spatial resolution and ppm elemental sensitivity. Thanks to recent hardware developments in Atom Probe Tomography (APT), combined with progress on site-specific focused ion beam (FIB)-based sample preparation methods and improved data treatment software, complex materials can now be routinely investigated. From model samples to complex, usable porous structures, there is currently a growing interest in the analysis of catalytic materials. APT is able to probe the end state of atomic-scale processes, providing information needed to improve the synthesis of catalysts and to unravel structure/composition/reactivity relationships. This review focuses on the study of catalytic materials with increasing complexity (tip-sample, unsupported and supported nanoparticles, powders, self-supported catalysts and zeolites), as well as sample preparation methods developed to obtain suitable specimens for APT experiments.
Collapse
|
3
|
Kim SH, Lee JY, Ahn JP, Choi PP. Fabrication of Atom Probe Tomography Specimens from Nanoparticles Using a Fusible Bi-In-Sn Alloy as an Embedding Medium. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:438-446. [PMID: 30714553 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927618015556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We propose a new method for preparing atom probe tomography specimens from nanoparticles using a fusible bismuth-indium-tin alloy as an embedding medium. Iron nanoparticles synthesized by the sodium borohydride reduction method were chosen as a model system. The as-synthesized iron nanoparticles were embedded within the fusible alloy using focused ion beam milling and ion-milled to needle-shaped atom probe specimens under cryogenic conditions. An atom probe analysis revealed boron atoms in a detected iron nanoparticle, indicating that boron from the sodium borohydride reductant was incorporated into the nanoparticle during its synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Se-Ho Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST),291 Daehak-ro,Yuseong-gu,Daejeon 34141,Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yeong Lee
- Advanced Analysis Center,Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST),Seoul 136-791,Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Pyoung Ahn
- Advanced Analysis Center,Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST),Seoul 136-791,Republic of Korea
| | - Pyuck-Pa Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST),291 Daehak-ro,Yuseong-gu,Daejeon 34141,Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kim SH, Kang PW, Park OO, Seol JB, Ahn JP, Lee JY, Choi PP. A new method for mapping the three-dimensional atomic distribution within nanoparticles by atom probe tomography (APT). Ultramicroscopy 2018; 190:30-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
5
|
Multiscale correlative tomography: an investigation of creep cavitation in 316 stainless steel. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7332. [PMID: 28779097 PMCID: PMC5544716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06976-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Creep cavitation in an ex-service nuclear steam header Type 316 stainless steel sample is investigated through a multiscale tomography workflow spanning eight orders of magnitude, combining X-ray computed tomography (CT), plasma focused ion beam (FIB) scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) tomography. Guided by microscale X-ray CT, nanoscale X-ray CT is used to investigate the size and morphology of cavities at a triple point of grain boundaries. In order to understand the factors affecting the extent of cavitation, the orientation and crystallographic misorientation of each boundary is characterised using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Additionally, in order to better understand boundary phase growth, the chemistry of a single boundary and its associated secondary phase precipitates is probed through STEM energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) tomography. The difference in cavitation of the three grain boundaries investigated suggests that the orientation of grain boundaries with respect to the direction of principal stress is important in the promotion of cavity formation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang Z, Liu J, Zhou Y, Neeway JJ, Schreiber DK, Crum JV, Ryan JV, Wang XL, Wang F, Zhu Z. Nanoscale imaging of Li and B in nuclear waste glass, a comparison of ToF-SIMS, NanoSIMS, and APT. SURF INTERFACE ANAL 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/sia.6049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoying Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Beijing Centre for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Chemistry; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100190 China
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| | - Jia Liu
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| | - Yufan Zhou
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials & Key Laboratory of Particle Physics and Particle Irradiation (MOE); Shandong University; Jinan 250100 China
| | - James J. Neeway
- Energy and Environment Directorate; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| | - Daniel K. Schreiber
- Energy and Environment Directorate; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| | - Jarrod V. Crum
- Energy and Environment Directorate; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| | - Joseph V. Ryan
- Energy and Environment Directorate; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| | - Xue-Lin Wang
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials & Key Laboratory of Particle Physics and Particle Irradiation (MOE); Shandong University; Jinan 250100 China
| | - Fuyi Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Beijing Centre for Mass Spectrometry, Institute of Chemistry; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100190 China
| | - Zihua Zhu
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Richland WA 99352 USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Devaraj A, Colby R, Vurpillot F, Thevuthasan S. Understanding Atom Probe Tomography of Oxide-Supported Metal Nanoparticles by Correlation with Atomic-Resolution Electron Microscopy and Field Evaporation Simulation. J Phys Chem Lett 2014; 5:1361-1367. [PMID: 26269980 DOI: 10.1021/jz500259c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Oxide-supported metal nanoparticles are widely used in heterogeneous catalysis. The increasingly detailed design of such catalysts necessitates three-dimensional characterization with high spatial resolution and elemental selectivity. Laser-assisted atom probe tomography (APT) is uniquely suited to the task but faces challenges with the evaporation of metal/insulator systems. Correlation of APT with aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), for Au nanoparticles embedded in MgO, reveals preferential evaporation of the MgO and an inaccurate assessment of nanoparticle composition. Finite element field evaporation modeling is used to illustrate the evolution of the evaporation front. Nanoparticle composition is most accurately predicted when the MgO is treated as having a locally variable evaporation field, indicating the importance of considering laser-oxide interactions and the evaporation of various molecular oxide ions. These results demonstrate the viability of APT for analysis of oxide-supported metal nanoparticles, highlighting the need for developing a theoretical framework for the evaporation of heterogeneous materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arun Devaraj
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - Robert Colby
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - François Vurpillot
- ‡Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, UMR 6634 CNRS, Université et INSA de Rouen, 76801 St Etienne du Rouvray, France
| | - Suntharampillai Thevuthasan
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Devaraj A, Colby R, Hess WP, Perea DE, Thevuthasan S. Role of Photoexcitation and Field Ionization in the Measurement of Accurate Oxide Stoichiometry by Laser-Assisted Atom Probe Tomography. J Phys Chem Lett 2013; 4:993-8. [PMID: 26291366 DOI: 10.1021/jz400015h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The addition of pulsed lasers to atom probe tomography (APT) extends its high spatial and mass resolution capability to nonconducting materials, such as oxides. For a prototypical metal oxide, MgO, the measured stoichiometry depends strongly on the laser pulse energy and applied voltage. Very low laser energies (0.02 pJ) and high electric fields yield optimal stoichiometric accuracy. Correlated APT and aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to establish the high density of corner and terrace sites on MgO sample surfaces before and after APT. For MgO, long-lifetime photoexcited holes localized at oxygen corner sites can assist in the creation of oxygen neutrals that may spontaneously desorb either as atomic O or as molecular O2. The observed trends are best explained by the relative field-dependent ionization of photodesorbed O or O2 neutrals. These results emphasize the importance of considering electronic excitations in APT analysis of oxide materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Devaraj
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and ‡Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - R Colby
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and ‡Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - W P Hess
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and ‡Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - D E Perea
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and ‡Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| | - S Thevuthasan
- †Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and ‡Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, United States
| |
Collapse
|