1
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Li Y, Wei Y, Wang Z, Liu X, Colnaghi T, Han L, Rao Z, Zhou X, Huber L, Dsouza R, Gong Y, Neugebauer J, Marek A, Rampp M, Bauer S, Li H, Baker I, Stephenson LT, Gault B. Quantitative three-dimensional imaging of chemical short-range order via machine learning enhanced atom probe tomography. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7410. [PMID: 37973821 PMCID: PMC10654683 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43314-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical short-range order (CSRO) refers to atoms of specific elements self-organising within a disordered crystalline matrix to form particular atomic neighbourhoods. CSRO is typically characterized indirectly, using volume-averaged or through projection microscopy techniques that fail to capture the three-dimensional atomistic architectures. Here, we present a machine-learning enhanced approach to break the inherent resolution limits of atom probe tomography enabling three-dimensional imaging of multiple CSROs. We showcase our approach by addressing a long-standing question encountered in body-centred-cubic Fe-Al alloys that see anomalous property changes upon heat treatment. We use it to evidence non-statistical B2-CSRO instead of the generally-expected D03-CSRO. We introduce quantitative correlations among annealing temperature, CSRO, and nano-hardness and electrical resistivity. Our approach is further validated on modified D03-CSRO detected in Fe-Ga. The proposed strategy can be generally employed to investigate short/medium/long-range ordering phenomena in different materials and help design future high-performance materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Ye Wei
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
| | - Xiaochun Liu
- Institute of Metals, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, 410114, China
| | - Timoteo Colnaghi
- Max Planck Computing and Data Facility, Gießenbachstraße 2, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Liuliu Han
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ziyuan Rao
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Xuyang Zhou
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Liam Huber
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Raynol Dsouza
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yilun Gong
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jörg Neugebauer
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Marek
- Max Planck Computing and Data Facility, Gießenbachstraße 2, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Markus Rampp
- Max Planck Computing and Data Facility, Gießenbachstraße 2, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - Stefan Bauer
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Max-Planck-Ring 4, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hongxiang Li
- State Key Laboratory for Advanced Metals and Materials, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Ian Baker
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Leigh T Stephenson
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Baptiste Gault
- Max-Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Department of Materials, Imperial College, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
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2
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Tegg L, Breen AJ, Huang S, Sato T, Ringer SP, Cairney JM. Characterising the performance of an ultrawide field-of-view 3D atom probe. Ultramicroscopy 2023; 253:113826. [PMID: 37573667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2023.113826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Tegg
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Andrew J Breen
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Siyu Huang
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Takanori Sato
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Simon P Ringer
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Julie M Cairney
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
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3
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Hartshorne M, Leff A, Vetterick G, Hopkins EM, Taheri ML. Grain Boundary Plane Measurement Using Transmission Electron Microscopy Automated Crystallographic Orientation Mapping for Atom Probe Tomography Specimens. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:1018-1025. [PMID: 37749674 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Grain boundaries are critical in determining the properties of materials, including mechanical stability, conductivity, and corrosion resistance. The specific properties of materials depend not only on the misorientation of the crystals, the three most commonly characterized parameters, but also on the angle of the grain boundary plane between the two crystals, the final two parameters in the five-parameter macroscopic description of the grain boundary. The method presented here allows for the direct measurement of all five parameters of the grain boundary in a transmission electron microscopy specimen of various morphologies. This is especially applicable to atom probe specimens, where only a single-tilt axis is generally available, allowing the crystallographic description to be matched to the detailed chemical data available in the atom probe tomography. This method provides a platform for efficient grain boundary analysis in unique samples, saving operator time and allowing for ease of acquisition and interpretation in comparison with traditional electron diffraction methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Hartshorne
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, 1864 4th St., Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433, USA
| | - Asher Leff
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- United States Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA
| | - Gregory Vetterick
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- TerraPower, LLC, 15800 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA 98008, USA
| | - Emily M Hopkins
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Hall 207, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Mitra L Taheri
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland Hall 207, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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4
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Atomic-scale 3D imaging of individual dopant atoms in an oxide semiconductor. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4783. [PMID: 35970843 PMCID: PMC9378652 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32189-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The physical properties of semiconductors are controlled by chemical doping. In oxide semiconductors, small variations in the density of dopant atoms can completely change the local electric and magnetic responses caused by their strongly correlated electrons. In lightly doped systems, however, such variations are difficult to determine as quantitative 3D imaging of individual dopant atoms is a major challenge. We apply atom probe tomography to resolve the atomic sites that donors occupy in the small band gap semiconductor Er(Mn,Ti)O3 with a nominal Ti concentration of 0.04 at. %, map their 3D lattice positions, and quantify spatial variations. Our work enables atomic-level 3D studies of structure-property relations in lightly doped complex oxides, which is crucial to understand and control emergent dopant-driven quantum phenomena. Small variations in the density of dopants change the physical properties of complex oxides. Here, the authors resolve doping levels in three dimension, imaging the atomic sites that donors occupy in the small band gap semiconductor Er(Mn,Ti)O3.
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5
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Day AC, Breen AJ, Reinhard DA, Kelly TF, Ringer SP. Exploration of atom probe tomography at sub-10 K. Ultramicroscopy 2022; 241:113595. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2022.113595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
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6
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Liu S, Covian AC, Wang X, Cline CT, Akey A, Dong W, Yu SQ, Liu J. 3D Nanoscale Mapping of Short-Range Order in GeSn Alloys. SMALL METHODS 2022; 6:e2200029. [PMID: 35373530 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202200029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
GeSn on Si has attracted much research interest due to its tunable direct bandgap for mid-infrared applications. Recently, short-range order (SRO) in GeSn alloys has been theoretically predicted, which profoundly impacts the band structure. However, characterizing SRO in GeSn is challenging. Guided by physics-informed Poisson statistical analyses of k-nearest neighbors (KNN) in atom probe tomography (APT), a new approach is demonstrated here for 3D nanoscale SRO mapping and semi-quantitative strain mapping in GeSn. For GeSn with ≈14 at. % Sn, the SRO parameters of Sn-Sn 1NN in 10 × 10 × 10 nm3 nanocubes can deviate from that of the random alloys by ±15 %. The relatively large fluctuation of the SRO parameters contributes to band-edge softening observed optically. Sn-Sn 1NN also tends to be more favored toward the surface, less favored under strain relaxation or tensile strain, while almost independent of local Sn composition. An algorithm based on least square fit of atomic positions further verifies this Poisson-KNN statistical method. Compared to existing macroscopic spectroscopy or electron microscopy techniques, this new APT statistical analysis uniquely offers 3D SRO mapping at nanoscale resolution in a relatively large volume with millions of atoms. It can also be extended to investigate SRO in other alloy systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang Liu
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Alejandra Cuervo Covian
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Xiaoxin Wang
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Cory T Cline
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Austin Akey
- Center for Nanoscale Systems, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Weiling Dong
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Shui-Qing Yu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Jifeng Liu
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, 14 Engineering Drive, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
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7
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Ling YT, Cools S, Bogdanowicz J, Fleischmann C, Beenhouwer JD, Sijbers J, Vandervorst W. A Bottom-Up Volume Reconstruction Method for Atom Probe Tomography. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2022; 28:1-14. [PMID: 35088688 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927621012836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes a reconstruction method for atom probe tomography based on a bottom-up approach accounting for (i) the final tip morphology (which is frequently induced by inhomogeneous evaporation probabilities across the tip surface due to laser absorption, heat diffusion effects, and inhomogeneous material properties), (ii) the limited (and changing) field of view, and (iii) the detector efficiency. The reconstruction starts from the final tip morphology and reverses the evaporation sequence through the pseudo-deposition of defined small reconstruction volumes, which are then stacked together to create the full three-dimensional (3D) tip. The subdivision in small reconstruction volumes allows the scheme to account for the changing tip shape and field of view as evaporation proceeds. Atoms within the same small reconstruction volume are reconstructed at once by placing atoms back onto their possible lattice sites through a trajectory-matching process involving simulated and experimental hit maps. As the ejected ion trajectories are simulated using detailed electrostatic modeling inside the chamber, no simplifications have been imposed on the shape of the trajectories, projection laws, or tip surface. We demonstrate the superior performance of our approach over the conventional reconstruction method (Bas) for an asymmetrical tip shape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ting Ling
- Imec Vision Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Siegfried Cools
- Applied Mathematics Group, University of Antwerp, Middelheimlaan 1, 2020Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Jan De Beenhouwer
- Imec Vision Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jan Sijbers
- Imec Vision Lab, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wilfried Vandervorst
- Imec vzw, Kapeldreef 75, 3001Heverlee, Belgium
- Quantum Solid-State Physics, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, 3001Leuven, Belgium
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8
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Stender P, Solodenko H, Weigel A, Balla I, Schwarz TM, Ott J, Roussell M, Joshi Y, Duran R, Al-Shakran M, Jacob T, Schmitz G. A Modular Atom Probe Concept: Design, Operational Aspects, and Performance of an Integrated APT-FIB/SEM Solution. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2022; 28:1-13. [PMID: 35039107 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927621013982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Atomic probe tomography (APT) is able to generate three-dimensional chemical maps in atomic resolution. The required instruments for APT have evolved over the last 20 years from an experimental to an established method of materials analysis. Here, we describe the realization of a new modular instrument concept that allows the direct attachment of APT to a dual-beam SEM microscope with the main achievement of fast and direct sample transfer and high flexibility in chamber and component configuration. New operational modes are enabled regarding sample geometry, alignment of tips, and the microelectrode. The instrument is optimized to handle cryo-samples at all stages of preparation and storage. It comes with its own software for evaluation and reconstruction. The performance in terms of mass resolution, aperture angle, and detection efficiency is demonstrated with a few application examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Stender
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
- Inspico, TTI GmbH, Nobelstraße 15, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Helena Solodenko
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andreas Weigel
- Inspico, TTI GmbH, Nobelstraße 15, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Irdi Balla
- Inspico, TTI GmbH, Nobelstraße 15, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Tim Maximilian Schwarz
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jonas Ott
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Manuel Roussell
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Yug Joshi
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Rüya Duran
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Mohammad Al-Shakran
- Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081Ulm, Germany
| | - Timo Jacob
- Institute of Electrochemistry, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081Ulm, Germany
| | - Guido Schmitz
- Institute of Materials Science, Chair of Materials Physics, University of Stuttgart, Heisenbergstrasse 3, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
- Inspico, TTI GmbH, Nobelstraße 15, 70569Stuttgart, Germany
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9
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Kühbach M, Kasemer M, Gault B, Breen A. Open and strong-scaling tools for atom-probe crystallography: high-throughput methods for indexing crystal structure and orientation. J Appl Crystallogr 2021; 54:1490-1508. [PMID: 34667452 PMCID: PMC8493626 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576721008578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Volumetric crystal structure indexing and orientation mapping are key data processing steps for virtually any quantitative study of spatial correlations between the local chemical composition features and the microstructure of a material. For electron and X-ray diffraction methods it is possible to develop indexing tools which compare measured and analytically computed patterns to decode the structure and relative orientation within local regions of interest. Consequently, a number of numerically efficient and automated software tools exist to solve the above characterization tasks. For atom-probe tomography (APT) experiments, however, the strategy of making comparisons between measured and analytically computed patterns is less robust because many APT data sets contain substantial noise. Given that sufficiently general predictive models for such noise remain elusive, crystallography tools for APT face several limitations: their robustness to noise is limited, and therefore so too is their capability to identify and distinguish different crystal structures and orientations. In addition, the tools are sequential and demand substantial manual interaction. In combination, this makes robust uncertainty quantification with automated high-throughput studies of the latent crystallographic information a difficult task with APT data. To improve the situation, the existing methods are reviewed and how they link to the methods currently used by the electron and X-ray diffraction communities is discussed. As a result of this, some of the APT methods are modified to yield more robust descriptors of the atomic arrangement. Also reported is how this enables the development of an open-source software tool for strong scaling and automated identification of a crystal structure, and the mapping of crystal orientation in nanocrystalline APT data sets with multiple phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Kühbach
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, D-40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthew Kasemer
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Baptiste Gault
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, D-40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Royal School of Mines, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Breen
- University of Sydney, Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, NSW 2006 Sydney, Australia
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10
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Klaes B, Lardé R, Delaroche F, Hatzoglou C, Parvianien S, Houard J, Da Costa G, Normand A, Brault M, Radiguet B, Vurpillot F. Development of Wide Field of View Three-Dimensional Field Ion Microscopy and High-Fidelity Reconstruction Algorithms to the Study of Defects in Nuclear Materials. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2021; 27:365-384. [PMID: 33750488 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927621000131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This article presents a fast and highly efficient algorithm developed to reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) volume with a high spatial precision from a set of field ion microscopy (FIM) images, and specific tools developed to characterize crystallographic lattice and defects. A set of FIM digital images and image processing algorithms allow the construction of a 3D reconstruction of the sample at the atomic scale. The capability of the 3D FIM to resolve the crystallographic lattice and the finest defects in metals opens a new way to analyze materials. This spatial precision was quantified on tungsten, analyzed at different analyzing conditions. A specific data mining tool, based on Fourier transforms, was also developed to characterize lattice distortions in the reconstructed volumes. This tool has been used in simulated and experimental volumes to successfully locate and characterize defects such as dislocations and grain boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Klaes
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Rodrigue Lardé
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Fabien Delaroche
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Constantinos Hatzoglou
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Stefan Parvianien
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Jonathan Houard
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Gérald Da Costa
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Antoine Normand
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Martin Brault
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - Bertrand Radiguet
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
| | - François Vurpillot
- Normandie Université, UNIROUEN, INSA Rouen, CNRS, Groupe de Physique des Matériaux, Rouen76000, France
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11
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Still EK, Schreiber DK, Wang J, Hosemann P. Alpha Shape Analysis (ASA) Framework for Post- Clustering Property Determination in Atom Probe Tomographic Data. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2021; 27:297-317. [PMID: 33407960 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927620024939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
While application of clustering algorithms to atom probe tomography data have enabled quantification of solute clusters in terms of number density, size, and subcomposition there exist other properties (e.g., volume, surface area, and composition) that are better determined by defining an interface between the cluster and the surrounding matrix. The limitation in composition results from an ion selection step where the expected matrix ion types are omitted from the cluster search algorithm to enhance the contrast between the matrix and cluster and to reduce the complexity of the search. Previously, composition determination within solute clusters has utilized a secondary envelopment and erosion step on top of conventional methods such as maximum separation. In this work, we present a novel stochastic method that combines the particle identification fidelity of a conventional clustering algorithm with the analytical flexibility of mesh-based approaches through the generation of alpha shapes for each identified cluster. The corresponding mesh accounts for concave components of the clusters and determines the volume and surface area of the clusters; additionally, the mesh boundary is utilized to update the total composition according to the internal ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan K Still
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720, USA
| | - Daniel K Schreiber
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA99354, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA99354, USA
| | - Peter Hosemann
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720, USA
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12
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Ceguerra AV, Breen AJ, Cairney JM, Ringer SP, Gorman BP. Integrative Atom Probe Tomography Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy-Centric Atom Placement as a Step Toward Atomic-Scale Tomography. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2021; 27:140-148. [PMID: 33468273 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927620024873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Current reconstruction methodologies for atom probe tomography (APT) contain serious geometric artifacts that are difficult to address due to their reliance on empirical factors to generate a reconstructed volume. To overcome this limitation, a reconstruction technique is demonstrated where the analyzed volume is instead defined by the specimen geometry and crystal structure as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and diffraction acquired before and after APT analysis. APT data are reconstructed using a bottom-up approach, where the post-APT TEM image is used to define the substrate upon which APT detection events are placed. Transmission electron diffraction enables the quantification of the relationship between atomic positions and the evaporated specimen volume. Using an example dataset of ZnMgO:Ga grown epitaxially on c-plane sapphire, a volume is reconstructed that has the correct geometry and atomic spacings in 3D. APT data are thus reconstructed in 3D without using empirical parameters for the reverse projection reconstruction algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Ceguerra
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis (ACMM), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (AMME), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Andrew J Breen
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis (ACMM), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (AMME), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Julie M Cairney
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis (ACMM), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (AMME), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Simon P Ringer
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis (ACMM), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering (AMME), The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW2006, Australia
| | - Brian P Gorman
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO80401, USA
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Gault B, Chiaramonti A, Cojocaru-Mirédin O, Stender P, Dubosq R, Freysoldt C, Makineni SK, Li T, Moody M, Cairney JM. Atom probe tomography. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2021; 1:10.1038/s43586-021-00047-w. [PMID: 37719173 PMCID: PMC10502706 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-021-00047-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Atom probe tomography (APT) provides three-dimensional compositional mapping with sub-nanometre resolution. The sensitivity of APT is in the range of parts per million for all elements, including light elements such as hydrogen, carbon or lithium, enabling unique insights into the composition of performance-enhancing or lifetime-limiting microstructural features and making APT ideally suited to complement electron-based or X-ray-based microscopies and spectroscopies. Here, we provide an introductory overview of APT ranging from its inception as an evolution of field ion microscopy to the most recent developments in specimen preparation, including for nanomaterials. We touch on data reconstruction, analysis and various applications, including in the geosciences and the burgeoning biological sciences. We review the underpinnings of APT performance and discuss both strengths and limitations of APT, including how the community can improve on current shortcomings. Finally, we look forwards to true atomic-scale tomography with the ability to measure the isotopic identity and spatial coordinates of every atom in an ever wider range of materials through new specimen preparation routes, novel laser pulsing and detector technologies, and full interoperability with complementary microscopy techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Gault
- Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Ann Chiaramonti
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Applied Chemicals and Materials Division, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Patrick Stender
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Renelle Dubosq
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Tong Li
- Institute for Materials, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Moody
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julie M. Cairney
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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14
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Kim HK, Ha HY, Bae JH, Cho MK, Kim J, Han J, Suh JY, Kim GH, Lee TH, Jang JH, Chun D. Nanoscale light element identification using machine learning aided STEM-EDS. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13699. [PMID: 32792596 PMCID: PMC7426414 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70674-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Light element identification is necessary in materials research to obtain detailed insight into various material properties. However, reported techniques, such as scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) have inadequate detection limits, which impairs identification. In this study, we achieved light element identification with nanoscale spatial resolution in a multi-component metal alloy through unsupervised machine learning algorithms of singular value decomposition (SVD) and independent component analysis (ICA). Improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the STEM-EDS spectrum images was achieved by combining SVD and ICA, leading to the identification of a nanoscale N-depleted region that was not observed in as-measured STEM-EDS. Additionally, the formation of the nanoscale N-depleted region was validated using STEM–electron energy loss spectroscopy and multicomponent diffusional transformation simulation. The enhancement of SNR in STEM-EDS spectrum images by machine learning algorithms can provide an efficient, economical chemical analysis method to identify light elements at the nanoscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Kyu Kim
- Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Heon-Young Ha
- Ferrous Alloy Department, Korea Institute of Materials Science, Changwon, 51508, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee-Hwan Bae
- Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Kyung Cho
- Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Juyoung Kim
- Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongwoo Han
- Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Yoo Suh
- Center for Energy Materials Research, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeung-Ho Kim
- Advanced Analysis Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Ho Lee
- Ferrous Alloy Department, Korea Institute of Materials Science, Changwon, 51508, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Hoon Jang
- Ferrous Alloy Department, Korea Institute of Materials Science, Changwon, 51508, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dongwon Chun
- Ferrous Alloy Department, Korea Institute of Materials Science, Changwon, 51508, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Blom DA, Vogt T. Probing Compositional Order in Atomic Columns: STEM Simulations Beyond the Virtual Crystal Approximation. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2020; 26:46-52. [PMID: 31839023 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927619015198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Taking advantage of recent advances in parallel computing, we studied compositional disorder along metal-oxygen atomic columns in a complex Mo,V-oxide bronze using multislice frozen-phonon calculations. Commonly, the virtual crystal approximation (VCA) is used to model compositional disorder at crystallographic sites in a unit cell for a number of different theoretical and experimental techniques. In the VCA, a weighted linear sum of atomic properties is used to approximate the model structure. When using the VCA, the extracted V content of Mo,V-O columns from experimental high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) images will be about half the V content estimated from simulations, considering the distinct cation ordering. This discrepancy is larger than the spread of HAADF signals of different configurational orders at a given V concentration, which can be up to 20%. Certain "isophilic" atomic arrangements along the column can be distinguished from more random ones using HAADF-STEM imaging. The trends and ratios of the simulated intensity spreads due to different compositional ordering along 11 M-O columns along the c-axis of the Mo,V oxide bronze qualitatively match those observed in experimental HAADF-STEM data. Instrumental and sample-based noise adds to the variability but does not significantly distort the relative ratios of column intensity variation. We observed that we only required seven random configurations to represent the intensity variations along columns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Blom
- Department of Chemical Engineering and NanoCenter, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter St., Room 001, Columbia, SC29208, USA
| | - Thomas Vogt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and NanoCenter, University of South Carolina, 631 Sumter St., Columbia, SC29208, USA
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16
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Theska F, Ceguerra AV, Turk C, Breen AJ, Ringer SP, Primig S. Correlative study of lattice imperfections in long-range ordered, nano-scale domains in a Fe-Co-Mo alloy. Ultramicroscopy 2019; 204:91-100. [PMID: 31132736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Recent advancements in data mining methods in atom probe microscopy have enabled new quantitative chemical and microstructural characterization beyond the standard three-dimensional reconstruction. For example, spatial distribution maps have been developed to enable visualisation of the local lattice occupation of a selected region of interest. However, the precision of such studies yet remains unknown as correlation with complementary methods would be required. Therefore, a correlative study of atom probe microscopy, neutron diffraction and microstructural modelling of long-range ordered, nano-scale domains in a well-researched Fe-Co-Mo Maraging-type steel is presented here. Its microstructure consists of Mo-enriched µ-phase (Fe,Co)7Mo6 particles embedded into a body-centred cubic FeCo matrix. Previous research has shown that under slow cooling conditions, this matrix partially decomposes into nano-scale B2 long-range ordered domains surrounded by disordered regions, resulting in reduced toughness in potential cutting applications. Usually, a long-range order parameter S referring to ideal B2 long-range order is assumed within such domains according to neutron diffraction. However, atom probe microscopy and modelling results presented in the current study indicate lattice imperfections with a partial substitution of atoms on the Fe- and Co-sublattices. After considering preferential retention effects during the atom probe experiment, a model unit cell is presented to define the observed imperfect B2 long-range order as pseudo-D03 long-range order, and the potential impact on the materials properties is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Theska
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - A V Ceguerra
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - C Turk
- Voestalpine Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG, Mariazellerstraße 25, 8605 Kapfenberg, Austria
| | - A J Breen
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Department of Microstructure Physics and Alloy Design, Max-Planck-Institute for Iron Research, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - S P Ringer
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - S Primig
- School of Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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17
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Day AC, Ceguerra AV, Ringer SP. Introducing a Crystallography-Mediated Reconstruction (CMR) Approach to Atom Probe Tomography. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:288-300. [PMID: 30712521 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927618015593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Current approaches to reconstruction in atom probe tomography produce results that exhibit substantial distortions throughout the analysis depth. This is largely because of the need to apply a multitude of assumptions when estimating the evolution of the tip shape, and other pseudo-empirical reconstruction factors, which vary both across the face of the tip and throughout the analysis depth. We introduce a new crystallography-mediated reconstruction to improve the spatial accuracy and dramatically reduce these in-depth variations. To achieve this, we developed a barycentric transform to directly relate atomic positions in detector space to real space. This is mediated by novel crystallographic analysis techniques, including: (1) calculating the orientation of a crystal directly from the field evaporation map, (2) tracking pole locations throughout the evaporation sequence, and (3) accounting for the evolving tip radius in a manner that removes the dependence on the geometric field factor. By improving the in-depth spatial accuracy of the atom probe reconstruction, a greater accuracy of the atomic neighborhood relationships is available. This is critical in modern materials science and engineering, where an understanding of the solid solution architecture, precipitate dispersions, and descriptions of the interfaces between phases or grains are key inputs to microstructure-property relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec C Day
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,The University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia
| | - Anna V Ceguerra
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,The University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia
| | - Simon P Ringer
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,The University of Sydney,Sydney,NSW 2006,Australia
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18
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Ceguerra AV, Day AC, Ringer SP. Assessing the Spatial Accuracy of the Reconstruction in Atom Probe Tomography and a New Calibratable Adaptive Reconstruction. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:309-319. [PMID: 31018880 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927619000369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We define a measure for the accuracy of tomographic reconstruction in atom probe tomography, named here the spatial error index. We demonstrate that this index can be used to compare rigorously the spatial accuracy of various different approaches to the calculation of tomographic reconstruction. This is useful, for example, to evaluate the performance of alternate tomographic reconstruction approaches, and ensures that the comparisons are independent of individual data quality or other instrumental parameters. We then introduce a new "adaptive reconstruction" formalism that uses a progression of reconstruction parameters based on a per-atom correction from the cube root of the inverse of the voltage, along with linear correction factors linked to the evaporation sequence. We apply the measure for spatial accuracy to this new reconstruction protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Ceguerra
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,The University of Sydney,Sydney, NSW 2006,Australia
| | - Alec C Day
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,The University of Sydney,Sydney, NSW 2006,Australia
| | - Simon P Ringer
- Australian Centre for Microscopy & Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering,The University of Sydney,Sydney, NSW 2006,Australia
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19
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Haley D, Bagot PAJ, Moody MP. DF-Fit: A Robust Algorithm for Detection of Crystallographic Information in Atom Probe Tomography Data. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:331-337. [PMID: 30702053 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927618015507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We report on a new algorithm for the detection of crystallographic information in three-dimensional, as retained in atom probe tomography (APT), with improved robustness and signal detection performance. The algorithm is underpinned by one-dimensional distribution functions (DFs), as per existing algorithms, but eliminates an unnecessary parameter as compared to current methods.By examining traditional DFs in an automated fashion in real space, rather than using Fourier transform approaches, we utilize an error metric based upon the expected value for a spatially random distribution for detecting crystallography. We show cases where the metric is able to successfully obtain orientation information, and show that it can function with high levels of additive and displacive background noise. We additionally compare this metric to Fourier transform methods, showing fewer artifacts when examining simulated datasets. An extension of the approach is used to aid the automatic detection of high-quality data regions within an entire dataset, albeit with a large increase in computational cost.This extension is demonstrated on acquired aluminum and tungsten APT datasets, and shown to be able to discern regions of the data which have relatively improved spatial data quality. Finally, this program has been made available for use in other laboratories undertaking their own analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Haley
- Department of Materials,Oxford University,16 Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH,UK
| | - Paul A J Bagot
- Department of Materials,Oxford University,16 Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH,UK
| | - Michael P Moody
- Department of Materials,Oxford University,16 Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PH,UK
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20
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Wang J, Schreiber DK, Bailey N, Hosemann P, Toloczko MB. The Application of the OPTICS Algorithm to Cluster Analysis in Atom Probe Tomography Data. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2019; 25:338-348. [PMID: 30846021 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927618015386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Atom probe tomography (APT) is a powerful technique to characterize buried three-dimensional nanostructures in a variety of materials. Accurate characterization of those nanometer-scale clusters and precipitates is of great scientific significance to understand the structure-property relationships and the microstructural evolution. The current widely used cluster analysis method, a variant of the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm, can only accurately extract clusters of the same atomic density, neglecting several experimental realities, such as density variations within and between clusters and the nonuniformity of the atomic density in the APT reconstruction itself (e.g., crystallographic poles and other field evaporation artifacts). This clustering method relies heavily on multiple input parameters, but ideal selection of those parameters is challenging and oftentimes ambiguous. In this study, we utilize a well-known cluster analysis algorithm, called ordering points to identify the clustering structures, and an automatic cluster extraction algorithm to analyze clusters of varying atomic density in APT data. This approach requires only one free parameter, and other inputs can be estimated or bounded based on physical parameters, such as the lattice parameter and solute concentration. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated by application to several small-scale model datasets and a real APT dataset obtained from an oxide-dispersion strengthened ferritic alloy specimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,Energy and Environment Directorate,Richland,WA, 99354,USA
| | - Daniel K Schreiber
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,Energy and Environment Directorate,Richland,WA, 99354,USA
| | - Nathan Bailey
- Department of Nuclear Engineering,University of California,Berkeley,CA, 94720,USA
| | - Peter Hosemann
- Department of Nuclear Engineering,University of California,Berkeley,CA, 94720,USA
| | - Mychailo B Toloczko
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,Energy and Environment Directorate,Richland,WA, 99354,USA
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21
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Self-consistent atom probe tomography reconstructions utilizing electron microscopy. Ultramicroscopy 2018; 195:32-46. [PMID: 30179773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Atom probe tomography reconstructions provide valuable information on nanometer-scale compositional variations within materials. As such, the spatial accuracy of the reconstructions is of primary importance for the resulting conclusions to be valid. Here, the use of transmission electron microscopy images before and after atom probe analysis to provide additional information and constraints is examined for a number of different materials. In particular, the consistency between the input reconstruction parameters and the output reconstruction is explored. It is demonstrated that it is possible to generate reconstructions in which the input and known values are completely consistent with the output reconstructions. Yet, it is also found that for all of the datasets examined, a particular power law relationship exists such that, if the image compression factor or detection efficiency is not constrained, a series of similarly spatially accurate reconstructions results. However, if one of these values can be independently assessed, then the other is known as well. Means of incorporating these findings and this general methodology into reconstruction protocols are also discussed.
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22
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On the retrieval of crystallographic information from atom probe microscopy data via signal mapping from the detector coordinate space. Ultramicroscopy 2018; 189:65-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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23
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Sun Z, Hazut O, Yerushalmi R, Lauhon LJ, Seidman DN. Criteria and considerations for preparing atom-probe tomography specimens of nanomaterials utilizing an encapsulation methodology. Ultramicroscopy 2017; 184:225-233. [PMID: 28985626 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Atom-probe tomography (APT) is a powerful method for characterization of nanomaterials due to its atomic-ppm level detection limit and Angstrom spatial resolution. Sample preparation for nanomaterials is, however, challenging because of their small dimensions and complicated geometries. Nanowires, with their high geometrical aspect ratio and nanowire length, 10 to 100 times their typical diameters, are highly suitable specimens for APT analyses, which can be transferred to silicon microposts using a nanomanipulator for direct APT measurements. This method is, however, prone to poor alignment and a limited field-of-view (FOV). Most importantly, direct implementation of APT with high aspect ratio nanowires may yield a low success rate of ∼30%, due to the high electric fields (10-40 V nm-1) associated with APT. While this is acceptable for samples analyzed solely by APT, a low sample yield makes it challenging to perform correlative experiments on the same nanowire specimen, utilizing other sophisticated characterization instruments. Herein, we introduce a general strategy for preparing high-yield APT specimens by encapsulating the nanowires utilizing a conformal atomic-layer deposition (ALD) coating followed by site-specific lift-out using a dual-beam focused-ion beam microscope. The ALD deposited coating forms strong chemical bonds with the Si nanowires yielding a high-quality and robust interface. The evaporation electric fields of the ALD coating and the nanowires are tuned by changing laser energy to obtain a uniform evaporation rate. The strong adhesion of the ALD-coating/nanowire interface and uniform evaporation rate produce a >90% specimen yield, with small concentration of reconstruction artifacts in 3-D. Simultaneously, the field-of-view is enhanced and the surface of the nanowire becomes visible, which makes the study of surface adsorption, segregation and oxidation possible. We utilized ALD-ZnO coated silicon nanowires as an example for investigating the criteria for choosing coating materials, laser pulse energy, laser direction, sample geometry, and substrate materials. The same criteria and considerations are applicable for preparing specimens of nanoparticles and 2-D material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Sun
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3108, USA
| | - Ori Hazut
- Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Roie Yerushalmi
- Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Lincoln J Lauhon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3108, USA.
| | - David N Seidman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3108, USA; Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT), 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3108, USA.
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24
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Tu Y, Han B, Shimizu Y, Inoue K, Fukui Y, Yano M, Tanii T, Shinada T, Nagai Y. Atom probe tomographic assessment of the distribution of germanium atoms implanted in a silicon matrix through nano-apertures. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:385301. [PMID: 28699622 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa7f49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ion implantation through nanometer-scale apertures (nano-apertures) is a promising method to precisely position ions in silicon matrices, which is a requirement for next generation electronic and quantum computing devices. This paper reports the application of atom probe tomography (APT) to investigate the three-dimensional distribution of germanium atoms in silicon after implantation through nano-aperture of 10 nm in diameter, for evaluation of the amount and spatial distribution of implanted dopants. The experimental results obtained by APT are consistent with a simple simulation with consideration of several effects during lithography and ion implantation, such as channeling and resist flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Tu
- Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Oarai, Ibaraki 311-1313, Japan
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25
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Melkonyan D, Fleischmann C, Arnoldi L, Demeulemeester J, Kumar A, Bogdanowicz J, Vurpillot F, Vandervorst W. Atom probe tomography analysis of SiGe fins embedded in SiO 2: Facts and artefacts. Ultramicroscopy 2017; 179:100-107. [PMID: 28460266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We present atom probe analysis of 40nm wide SiGe fins embedded in SiO2 and discuss the root cause of artefacts observed in the reconstructed data. Additionally, we propose a simple data treatment routine, relying on complementary transmission electron microscopy analysis, to improve compositional analysis of the embedded SiGe fins. Using field evaporation simulations, we show that for high oxide to fin width ratios the difference in evaporation field thresholds between SiGe and SiO2 results in a non-hemispherical emitter shape with a negative curvature in the direction across, but not along the fin. This peculiar emitter shape leads to severe local variations in radius and hence in magnification across the emitter apex causing ion trajectory aberrations and crossings. As shown by our experiments and simulations, this translates into unrealistic variations in the detected atom densities and faulty dimensions in the reconstructed volume, with the width of the fin being up to six-fold compressed. Rectification of the faulty dimensions and density variations in the SiGe fin was demonstrated with our dedicated data treatment routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Melkonyan
- Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Imec vzw, Kapeldreef 75, Heverlee - 3001, Belgium.
| | | | - L Arnoldi
- Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Imec vzw, Kapeldreef 75, Heverlee - 3001, Belgium
| | | | - A Kumar
- Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Imec vzw, Kapeldreef 75, Heverlee - 3001, Belgium
| | | | - F Vurpillot
- GPM, UMR 6634 CNRS, Université et INSA de Rouen, 76801 Saint-Etienne du Rouvray Cedex, France
| | - W Vandervorst
- Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium; Imec vzw, Kapeldreef 75, Heverlee - 3001, Belgium
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26
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Kwak CM, Kim YT, Park CG, Seol JB. Understanding of Capping Effects on the Tip Shape Evolution and on the Atom Probe Data of Bulk LaAlO3 Using Transmission Electron Microscopy. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2017; 23:329-335. [PMID: 28215196 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927617000149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Two challenges exist in laser-assisted atom probe tomography (APT). First, a drastic decline in mass-resolving power is caused, not only by laser-induced thermal effects on the APT tips of bulk oxide materials, but also the associated asymmetric evaporation behavior; second, the field evaporation mechanisms of bulk oxide tips under laser illumination are still unclear due to the complex relations between laser pulse and oxide materials. In this study, both phenomena were investigated by depositing Ni- and Co-capping layers onto the bulk LaAlO3 tips, and using stepwise APT analysis with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation of the tip shapes. By employing the metallic capping, the heating at the surface of the oxide tips during APT analysis became more symmetrical, thereby enabling a high mass-resolving power in the mass spectrum. In addition, the stepwise microscopy technique visualized tip shape evolution during APT analysis, thereby accounting for evaporation sequences at the tip surface. The combination of "capping" and "stepwise APT with TEM," is applicable to any nonconductors; it provides a direct observation of tip shape evolution, allows determination of the field evaporation strength of oxides, and facilitates understanding of the effects of ultrafast laser illumination on an oxide tip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Min Kwak
- 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering,POSTECH,Pohang 790-784,South Korea
| | - Young-Tae Kim
- 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering,POSTECH,Pohang 790-784,South Korea
| | - Chan-Gyung Park
- 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering,POSTECH,Pohang 790-784,South Korea
| | - Jae-Bok Seol
- 2National Institute for Nanomaterials Technology (NINT),POSTECH,Pohang 790-784,South Korea
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27
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Boll T, Unocic KA, Pint BA, Stiller K. Interfaces in Oxides Formed on NiAlCr Doped with Y, Hf, Ti, and B. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2017; 23:396-403. [PMID: 28318469 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927617000186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study applies atom probe tomography (APT) to analyze the oxide scales formed on model NiAlCr alloys doped with Hf, Y, Ti, and B. Due to its ability to measure small amounts of alloying elements in the oxide matrix and its ability to quantify segregation, the technique offers a possibility for detailed studies of the dopant's fate during high-temperature oxidation. Three model NiAlCr alloys with different additions of Hf, Y, Ti, and B were prepared and oxidized in O2 at 1,100°C for 100 h. All specimens showed an outer region consisting of different spinel oxides with relatively small grains and the protective Al2O3-oxide layer below. APT analyses focused mainly on this protective oxide layer. In all the investigated samples segregation of both Hf and Y to the oxide grain boundaries was observed and quantified. Neither B nor Ti were observed in the alumina grains or at the analyzed interfaces. The processes of formation of oxide scales and segregation of the alloying elements are discussed. The experimental challenges of the oxide analyses by APT are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Boll
- 1Department of Physics,Chalmers University of Technology,SE-412 96 Göteborg,Sweden
| | - Kinga A Unocic
- 2Oak Ridge National Laboratory,Materials Science and Technology Division,Oak Ridge,TN 37831,USA
| | - Bruce A Pint
- 2Oak Ridge National Laboratory,Materials Science and Technology Division,Oak Ridge,TN 37831,USA
| | - Krystyna Stiller
- 1Department of Physics,Chalmers University of Technology,SE-412 96 Göteborg,Sweden
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28
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Atom probe study of B2 order and A2 disorder of the FeCo matrix in an Fe-Co-Mo-alloy. Micron 2017; 98:24-33. [PMID: 28359958 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The physical and mechanical properties of intermetallic alloys can be tailored by controlling the degree of order of the solid solution by means of heat treatments. FeCo alloys with an appropriate composition exhibit an A2-disorder↔B2-order transition during continuous cooling from the disordered bcc region. The study of atomic order in intermetallic alloys by diffraction and its influence on the material properties is well established, however, investigating magnetic FeCo-based alloys by conventional methods such as X-ray diffraction is quite challenging. Thus, the imaging of ordered FeCo-nanostructures needs to be done with high resolution techniques. Transmission electron microscopy investigations of ordered FeCo domains are difficult, due to the chemical and physical similarity of Fe and Co atoms and the ferromagnetism of the samples. In this work it will be demonstrated, that the local atomic arrangement of ordered and disordered regions in an industrial Fe-Co-Mo alloy can be successfully imaged by atom probe measurements supported by field ion microscopy and transmission Kikuchi diffraction. Furthermore, a thorough atom probe parameter study will be presented and field evaporation artefacts as a function of crystallographic orientation in Fe-Co-samples will be discussed.
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29
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Koelling S, Li A, Cavalli A, Assali S, Car D, Gazibegovic S, Bakkers EPAM, Koenraad PM. Atom-by-Atom Analysis of Semiconductor Nanowires with Parts Per Million Sensitivity. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:599-605. [PMID: 28002677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b03109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The functionality of semiconductor devices is determined by the incorporation of dopants at concentrations down to the parts per million (ppm) level and below. Optimization of intentional and unintentional impurity doping relies on methods to detect and map the level of impurities. Detecting such low concentrations of impurities in nanostructures is however challenging to date as on the one hand methods used for macroscopic samples cannot be applied due to the inherent small volumes or faceted surfaces and on the other hand conventional microscopic analysis techniques are not sufficiently sensitive. Here, we show that we can detect and map impurities at the ppm level in semiconductor nanowires using atom probe tomography. We develop a method applicable to a wide variety of nanowires relevant for electronic and optical devices. We expect that it will contribute significantly to the further optimization of the synthesis of nanowires, nanostructures and devices based on these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Koelling
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - A Li
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
- Key Lab of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Beijing University of Technology , Beijing, 100024, China
| | - A Cavalli
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - S Assali
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - D Car
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
- Quantum Transport Group, Kavli Institute , Delft, 2628 CJ, The Netherlands
| | - S Gazibegovic
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
- Quantum Transport Group, Kavli Institute , Delft, 2628 CJ, The Netherlands
| | - E P A M Bakkers
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
- Quantum Transport Group, Kavli Institute , Delft, 2628 CJ, The Netherlands
| | - P M Koenraad
- Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics, Eindhoven University of Technology , Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
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30
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Kelly TF. Atomic-Scale Analytical Tomography. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2017; 23:34-45. [PMID: 28228167 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927617000125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The concept of atomic-scale tomography has been proposed in the past decade as a technique that could deliver the position of all atoms with high precision and their elemental (isotopic) identity. The technique was never intended to be limited to merely structural information and there is clearly a rich array of additional analytical information that can be brought to bear on such tomographs. In this paper, some of these types of information are considered and the implications are explored. The fuller realm of this analytical and structural information may be called atomic-scale analytical tomography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Kelly
- CAMECA Instruments, Inc.,5500 Nobel Drive,Madison,WI53711,USA
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32
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Córdoba R, Sharma N, Kölling S, Koenraad PM, Koopmans B. High-purity 3D nano-objects grown by focused-electron-beam induced deposition. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 27:355301. [PMID: 27454835 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/35/355301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
To increase the efficiency of current electronics, a specific challenge for the next generation of memory, sensing and logic devices is to find suitable strategies to move from two- to three-dimensional (3D) architectures. However, the creation of real 3D nano-objects is not trivial. Emerging non-conventional nanofabrication tools are required for this purpose. One attractive method is focused-electron-beam induced deposition (FEBID), a direct-write process of 3D nano-objects. Here, we grow 3D iron and cobalt nanopillars by FEBID using diiron nonacarbonyl Fe2(CO)9, and dicobalt octacarbonyl Co2(CO)8, respectively, as starting materials. In addition, we systematically study the composition of these nanopillars at the sub-nanometer scale by atom probe tomography, explicitly mapping the homogeneity of the radial and longitudinal composition distributions. We show a way of fabricating high-purity 3D vertical nanostructures of ∼50 nm in diameter and a few micrometers in length. Our results suggest that the purity of such 3D nanoelements (above 90 at% Fe and above 95 at% Co) is directly linked to their growth regime, in which the selected deposition conditions are crucial for the final quality of the nanostructure. Moreover, we demonstrate that FEBID and the proposed characterization technique not only allow for growth and chemical analysis of single-element structures, but also offers a new way to directly study 3D core-shell architectures. This straightforward concept could establish a promising route to the design of 3D elements for future nano-electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Córdoba
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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33
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Sun Z, Hazut O, Huang BC, Chiu YP, Chang CS, Yerushalmi R, Lauhon LJ, Seidman DN. Dopant Diffusion and Activation in Silicon Nanowires Fabricated by ex Situ Doping: A Correlative Study via Atom-Probe Tomography and Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:4490-4500. [PMID: 27351447 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b01693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Dopants play a critical role in modulating the electric properties of semiconducting materials, ranging from bulk to nanoscale semiconductors, nanowires, and quantum dots. The application of traditional doping methods developed for bulk materials involves additional considerations for nanoscale semiconductors because of the influence of surfaces and stochastic fluctuations, which may become significant at the nanometer-scale level. Monolayer doping is an ex situ doping method that permits the post growth doping of nanowires. Herein, using atom-probe tomography (APT) with subnanometer spatial resolution and atomic-ppm detection limit, we study the distributions of boron and phosphorus in ex situ doped silicon nanowires with accurate control. A highly phosphorus doped outer region and a uniformly boron doped interior are observed, which are not predicted by criteria based on bulk silicon. These phenomena are explained by fast interfacial diffusion of phosphorus and enhanced bulk diffusion of boron, respectively. The APT results are compared with scanning tunneling spectroscopy data, which yields information concerning the electrically active dopants. Overall, comparing the information obtained by the two methods permits us to evaluate the diffusivities of each different dopant type at the nanowire oxide, interface, and core regions. The combined data sets permit us to evaluate the electrical activation and compensation of the dopants in different regions of the nanowires and understand the details that lead to the sharp p-i-n junctions formed across the nanowire for the ex situ doping process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Sun
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University , 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3108, United States
| | - Ori Hazut
- Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Bo-Chao Huang
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica , Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ping Chiu
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica , Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan Normal University , Taipei 116, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Seng Chang
- Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica , Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Roie Yerushalmi
- Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Edmond J. Safra Campus, Givat Ram, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Lincoln J Lauhon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University , 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3108, United States
| | - David N Seidman
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University , 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3108, United States
- Northwestern University Center for Atom-Probe Tomography (NUCAPT) , 2220 Campus Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3108, United States
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34
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Estivill R, Audoit G, Barnes JP, Grenier A, Blavette D. Preparation and Analysis of Atom Probe Tips by Xenon Focused Ion Beam Milling. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2016; 22:576-582. [PMID: 27056544 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927616000581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The damage and ion distribution induced in Si by an inductively coupled plasma Xe focused ion beam was investigated by atom probe tomography. By using predefined patterns it was possible to prepare the atom probe tips with a sub 50 nm end radius in the ion beam microscope. The atom probe reconstruction shows good agreement with simulated implantation profiles and interplanar distances extracted from spatial distribution maps. The elemental profiles of O and C indicate co-implantation during the milling process. The presence of small disc-shaped Xe clusters are also found in the three-dimensional reconstruction. These are attributed to the presence of Xe nanocrystals or bubbles that open during the evaporation process. The expected accumulated dose points to a loss of >95% of the Xe during analysis, which escapes undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Didier Blavette
- 4Groupe de Physique des Matériaux-GPM UMR CNRS 6634,Université de Rouen,France
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35
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Restoring the lattice of Si-based atom probe reconstructions for enhanced information on dopant positioning. Ultramicroscopy 2015; 159 Pt 2:314-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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36
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Meher S, Rojhirunsakool T, Nandwana P, Tiley J, Banerjee R. Determination of solute site occupancies within γ′ precipitates in nickel-base superalloys via orientation-specific atom probe tomography. Ultramicroscopy 2015; 159 Pt 2:272-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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37
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Marceau R, Ceguerra A, Breen A, Raabe D, Ringer S. Quantitative chemical-structure evaluation using atom probe tomography: Short-range order analysis of Fe–Al. Ultramicroscopy 2015; 157:12-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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38
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Araullo-Peters VJ, Breen A, Ceguerra AV, Gault B, Ringer SP, Cairney JM. A new systematic framework for crystallographic analysis of atom probe data. Ultramicroscopy 2015; 154:7-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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39
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Cairney JM, Rajan K, Haley D, Gault B, Bagot PAJ, Choi PP, Felfer PJ, Ringer SP, Marceau RKW, Moody MP. Mining information from atom probe data. Ultramicroscopy 2015; 159 Pt 2:324-37. [PMID: 26095825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Whilst atom probe tomography (APT) is a powerful technique with the capacity to gather information containing hundreds of millions of atoms from a single specimen, the ability to effectively use this information creates significant challenges. The main technological bottleneck lies in handling the extremely large amounts of data on spatial-chemical correlations, as well as developing new quantitative computational foundations for image reconstruction that target critical and transformative problems in materials science. The power to explore materials at the atomic scale with the extraordinary level of sensitivity of detection offered by atom probe tomography has not been not fully harnessed due to the challenges of dealing with missing, sparse and often noisy data. Hence there is a profound need to couple the analytical tools to deal with the data challenges with the experimental issues associated with this instrument. In this paper we provide a summary of some key issues associated with the challenges, and solutions to extract or "mine" fundamental materials science information from that data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Cairney
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Krishna Rajan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Daniel Haley
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK; Max Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck Straße 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Baptiste Gault
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
| | - Paul A J Bagot
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
| | - Pyuck-Pa Choi
- Max Planck Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Max-Planck Straße 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter J Felfer
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Simon P Ringer
- School of Aerospace, Mechanical, Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ross K W Marceau
- Institute for Frontier Materials, Deakin University, Geelong Technology Precinct, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Michael P Moody
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK
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40
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Probing the crystallography of ordered Phases by coupling of orientation microscopy with atom probe tomography. Ultramicroscopy 2015; 148:67-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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41
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Moody MP, Ceguerra AV, Breen AJ, Cui XY, Gault B, Stephenson LT, Marceau RKW, Powles RC, Ringer SP. Atomically resolved tomography to directly inform simulations for structure–property relationships. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5501. [DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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42
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Effects of laser energy and wavelength on the analysis of LiFePO₄ using laser assisted atom probe tomography. Ultramicroscopy 2014; 148:57-66. [PMID: 25282512 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The effects of laser wavelength (355 nm and 532 nm) and laser pulse energy on the quantitative analysis of LiFePO₄ by atom probe tomography are considered. A systematic investigation of ultraviolet (UV, 355 nm) and green (532 nm) laser assisted field evaporation has revealed distinctly different behaviors. With the use of a UV laser, the major issue was identified as the preferential loss of oxygen (up to 10 at%) while other elements (Li, Fe and P) were observed to be close to nominal ratios. Lowering the laser energy per pulse to 1 pJ/pulse from 50 pJ/pulse increased the observed oxygen concentration to nearer its correct stoichiometry, which was also well correlated with systematically higher concentrations of (16)O₂(+) ions. Green laser assisted field evaporation led to the selective loss of Li (~33% deficiency) and a relatively minor O deficiency. The loss of Li is likely a result of selective dc evaporation of Li between or after laser pulses. Comparison of the UV and green laser data suggests that the green wavelength energy was absorbed less efficiently than the UV wavelength because of differences in absorption at 355 and 532 nm for LiFePO₄. Plotting of multihit events on Saxey plots also revealed a strong neutral O2 loss from molecular dissociation, but quantification of this loss was insufficient to account for the observed oxygen deficiency.
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Xiong X, Weyland M. Microstructural characterization of an Al-li-mg-cu alloy by correlative electron tomography and atom probe tomography. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2014; 20:1022-1028. [PMID: 24815550 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927614000798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Correlative electron tomography and atom probe tomography have been carried out successfully on the same region of a commercial 8090 aluminum alloy (Al-Li-Mg-Cu). The combination of the two techniques allows accurate geometric reconstruction of the atom probe tomography data verified by crystallographic information retrieved from the reconstruction. Quantitative analysis of the precipitate phase compositions and volume fractions of each phase have been obtained from the atom probe tomography and electron tomography at various scales, showing strong agreement between both techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyuan Xiong
- 1Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy,Monash University,VIC 3800,Australia
| | - Matthew Weyland
- 1Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy,Monash University,VIC 3800,Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Gnaser
- Institut für Oberflächen- und Schichtanalytik (IFOS); Trippstadter Str. 120 67663 Kaiserslautern Germany
- Fachbereich Physik and Forschungszentrum OPTIMAS; Technische Universität Kaiserslautern; 67663 Kaiserslautern Germany
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45
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Prosa T, Olson D, Geiser B, Larson D, Henry K, Steel E. Analysis of implanted silicon dopant profiles. Ultramicroscopy 2013; 132:179-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2012] [Revised: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 10/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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46
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Calibration of reconstruction parameters in atom probe tomography using a single crystallographic orientation. Ultramicroscopy 2013; 132:136-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 02/09/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Kelly TF, Miller MK, Rajan K, Ringer SP. Atomic-scale tomography: a 2020 vision. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2013; 19:652-664. [PMID: 23668837 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927613000494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Atomic-scale tomography (AST) is defined and its place in microscopy is considered. Arguments are made that AST, as defined, would be the ultimate microscopy. The available pathways for achieving AST are examined and we conclude that atom probe tomography (APT) may be a viable basis for AST on its own and that APT in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy is a likely path as well. Some possible configurations of instrumentation for achieving AST are described. The concept of metaimages is introduced where data from multiple techniques are melded to create synergies in a multidimensional data structure. When coupled with integrated computational materials engineering, structure-properties microscopy is envisioned. The implications of AST for science and technology are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Kelly
- Cameca Instruments Inc., 5500 Nobel Drive, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53711, USA.
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Interpretation of atom probe tomography data for the intermetallic TiAl+Nb by means of field evaporation simulation. Ultramicroscopy 2013; 124:1-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2012.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2010] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Suram SK, Rajan K. Refining spatial distribution maps for atom probe tomography via data dimensionality reduction methods. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2012; 18:941-952. [PMID: 23046678 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927612001171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A mathematical framework based on singular value decomposition is used to analyze the covariance among interatomic frequency distributions in spatial distribution maps (SDMs). Using this approach, singular vectors that capture the covariance within the SDM data are obtained. The structurally relevant singular vectors (SRSVs) are identified. Using the SRSVs, we extract information from z-SDMs that not only captures the offset between the atomic planes but also captures the covariance in the atomic structure among the neighborhood atomic planes. These refined z-SDMs classify the Δ(Δz) slices in the SDMs into structurally relevant information, noise, and aberrations. The SRSVs are used to construct refined xy-SDMs that provide enhanced structural information for three-dimensional atom probe tomography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh K Suram
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Boll T, Zhu ZY, Al-Kassab T, Schwingenschlögl U. Atom probe tomography simulations and density functional theory calculations of bonding energies in Cu3Au. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2012; 18:964-970. [PMID: 23095446 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927612001365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In this article the Cu-Au binding energy in Cu3Au is determined by comparing experimental atom probe tomography (APT) results to simulations. The resulting bonding energy is supported by density functional theory calculations. The APT simulations are based on the Müller-Schottky equation, which is modified to include different atomic neighborhoods and their characteristic bonds. The local environment is considered up to the fifth next nearest neighbors. To compare the experimental with simulated APT data, the AtomVicinity algorithm, which provides statistical information about the positions of the neighboring atoms, is applied. The quality of this information is influenced by the field evaporation behavior of the different species, which is connected to the bonding energies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torben Boll
- Institut für Materialphysik, Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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