Compositional analysis of mixed–cation-anion III–V semiconductor interfaces using phase retrieval high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

An Excess Electron Bound to Magnesium Halides and Basic Grignard Compounds (RMgX and RMgR, R = Me, Et, Ph; X = F, Cl, Br)

Grignard reagents are commonly used in organic synthesis, yet their ability to form stable anionic states has not been recognized thus far. In this work, representative examples of RMgF, RMgCl, and RMgBr molecules involving methyl, ethyl, and phenyl functional groups serving as R substituents are investigated regarding their equilibrium structures, adiabatic electron affinities, and vertical electron detachment energies of their daughter anions. The electronic stabilities determined for the negatively charged Grignard compounds are then compared to those predicted for their corresponding magnesium halides. The anions formed by RMgX (R = Me, Et, Ph; X = F, Cl, Br) molecules are found to be adiabatically electronically stable valence-bound systems characterized by relatively large vertical electron detachment energies spanning the 0.79–1.62 eV range. In addition, significant structural relaxation upon attachment of an excess electron is predicted for all Grignard compounds considered. Furthermore, the re-examination of the anions formed by magnesium halides resulted in recognizing them as valence-bound rather than dipole-bound anions, in contrast to the earlier interpretations.

Point defect characterization in HAADF-STEM images using multivariate statistical analysis

Quantitative analysis of point defects is demonstrated through the use of multivariate statistical analysis. This analysis consists of principal component analysis for dimensional estimation and reduction, followed by independent component analysis to obtain physically meaningful, statistically independent factor images. Results from these analyses are presented in the form of factor images and scores. Factor images show characteristic intensity variations corresponding to physical structure changes, while scores relate how much those variations are present in the original data. The application of this technique is demonstrated on a set of experimental images of dislocation cores along a low-angle tilt grain boundary in strontium titanate. A relationship between chemical composition and lattice strain is highlighted in the analysis results, with picometer-scale shifts in several columns measurable from compositional changes in a separate column.