Characterising the performance of an ultrawide field-of-view 3D atom probe

The CAMECA Invizo 6000 atom probe microscope uses ion optics that differ significantly from the local electrode atom probe (LEAP). It uses dual antiparallel deep ultraviolet lasers, a flat counter electrode, and a series of accelerating and decelerating lenses to increase the field-of-view of the specimen without reducing the mass resolving power. In this work we characterise the performance of the Invizo 6000 using three material case studies: a model Al-Mg-Si alloy, a commercially-available Ni-based superalloy, and a Zr alloy, using a combination of air and vacuum-transfer between instruments. The ion optics of the Invizo 6000 significantly increase the field-of-view compared to the same specimen on a LEAP 4000 X Si. We also observe a significant increase in specimen yield, especially for the Zr alloy. These results combine to make the Invizo 6000 well-suited to research projects requiring large analysis volumes, particularly so for traditionally difficult samples such as oxides.

Plasmonic enhancement of aqueous processed organic photovoltaics

Sodium tungsten bronze (Na_xWO₃) is a promising alternative plasmonic material to nanoparticulate gold due to its strong plasmonic resonances in both the visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions. Additional benefits include its simple production either as a bulk or a nanoparticle material at a relatively low cost. In this work, plasmonic Na_xWO₃ nanoparticles were introduced and mixed into the nanoparticulate zinc oxide electron transport layer of a water processed poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PC₆₁BM) nanoparticle (NP) based organic photovoltaic device (NP-OPV). The power conversion efficiency of NP-OPV devices with Na_xWO₃ NPs added was found to improve by around 35% compared to the control devices, attributed to improved light absorption, resulting in an enhanced short circuit current and fill factor.

Plasmonic Na_xWO₃ nanoparticles were introduced to aqueous processed organic photovoltaics with 35% device enhancement.

Chemical homogeneity and optical properties of individual sodium tungsten bronze nanocubes

The sodium tungsten bronzes (Na_xWO₃) are sub-stoichiometric metal oxides with variable Na content described by x. Methods to determine the overall x of a sample are well-known, but variations of composition within a particle have not yet been explored. In this work, electron microscopy techniques are used to determine the crystallinity and chemical composition of individual Na_0.83WO₃ nanocubes. The particles are found to be single crystals, with the top and bottom faces of the nanocubes parallel to the {100} planes. Compositional homogeneity is observed within the particles other than an approximately ≈5 nm Na-depletion layer at the edge of the particle. An O-depleted layer, believed to be the result of beam damage, is observed when the beam is scanned slowly over the edge of the particle. Calculations of the plasmon responses using the boundary element method (BEM) show that this depletion layer has a minor impact on the optical properties of the large (190 nm) particle studied of this work, but is expected to have a dramatic impact for small (20 nm) particles.

NaxWO3 + TiO2 nanocomposites as plasmonic photocatalysts for the degradation of organic dyes

The combination of plasmonic metal nanostructures with semiconductor photocatalysts can improve their photocatalytic efficiency by increasing light absorption and aiding in charge separation. Metallic Na x WO3 has been shown to be strongly plasmonic and offers a readily synthesized and low-cost replacement for the noble metals which are conventionally used in plasmonic photocatalysts. In this work, a range of Na x WO3 + TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated. Composites containing both semiconducting (x < 0.25) and metallic (x > 0.25) Na x WO3 were prepared. The degradation of rhodamine 6G (R6G) under visible and near infrared (NIR) light illumination was observed only when Na x WO3 and TiO2 were both present in the composite. Photocatalytic activity was generally higher in metallic samples than in semiconducting ones, but the sample with the highest activity had a mixture of both. This suggests that a combination of interband transitions and plasmonics-enhanced processes can be used together to catalyse reactions.

Bulk scale fabrication of sodium tungsten bronze nanoparticles for applications in plasmonics

In order to advance plasmon-based technologies, new materials with low damping losses and high chemical stability are needed. In this letter, we report the bulk scale fabrication of sodium tungsten bronze (Na _x WO₃) nanoparticles with high Na content (x ≤ 0.83) using a furnace-assisted method. Phase purity and morphology is confirmed with x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Plasmon responses are characterized using spectrophotometry and spatially-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Experimental EELS maps of individual nanoparticles show the excitation of distinct plasmon resonances at visible and near-infrared (NIR) frequencies, and these observations are supported by boundary element method simulations. Na _x WO₃ is a promising alternative material for plasmonics due to its strong plasmon resonances when compared to Au, its simple nanofabrication, and low cost. In particular, their high NIR extinction makes these materials ideal for applications in solar control window coatings or plasmonic photocatalysis.