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Casalegno M, Famulari A, Meille SV. Modeling of Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and Its Oligomer’s Structure and Thermal Behavior with Different Force Fields: Insights into the Phase Transitions of Semiconducting Polymers. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mosè Casalegno
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, I-20131 Milano (MI), Italy
| | - Antonino Famulari
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, I-20131 Milano (MI), Italy
| | - Stefano Valdo Meille
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “G. Natta”, Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, I-20131 Milano (MI), Italy
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2
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Cendra C, Balhorn L, Zhang W, O’Hara K, Bruening K, Tassone CJ, Steinrück HG, Liang M, Toney MF, McCulloch I, Chabinyc ML, Salleo A, Takacs CJ. Unraveling the Unconventional Order of a High-Mobility Indacenodithiophene-Benzothiadiazole Copolymer. ACS Macro Lett 2021; 10:1306-1314. [PMID: 35549036 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.1c00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A new class of donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers found to produce high charge carrier mobilities competitive with amorphous silicon (>1 cm2 V-1 s-1) exhibit the puzzling microstructure of substantial local order, however lacking long-range order and crystallinity previously deemed necessary for achieving high mobility. Here, we demonstrate the application of low-dose transmission electron microscopy to image and quantify the nanoscale and mesoscale organization of an archetypal D-A copolymer across areas comparable to electronic devices (≈9 μm2). The local structure is spatially resolved by mapping the backbone (001) spacing reflection, revealing nanocrystallites of aligned polymer chains throughout nearly the entire film. Analysis of the nanoscale structure of its ordered domains suggests significant short- and medium-range order and preferential grain boundary orientations. Moreover, we provide insights into the rich, interconnected mesoscale organization of this new family of D-A copolymers by analysis of the local orientational spatial autocorrelations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Cendra
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Luke Balhorn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering Division KAUST Solar Center (KSC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kathryn O’Hara
- Materials Department, University of California—Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Karsten Bruening
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Christopher J. Tassone
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Hans-Georg Steinrück
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
- Department Chemie, Universität Paderborn, 33098 Paderborn, Germany
| | - Mengning Liang
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
| | - Michael F. Toney
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado—Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Iain McCulloch
- Physical Science and Engineering Division KAUST Solar Center (KSC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, United Kingdom
| | - Michael L. Chabinyc
- Materials Department, University of California—Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Alberto Salleo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Christopher J. Takacs
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
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3
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Grodd LS, Mikayelyan E, Dane T, Pietsch U, Grigorian S. Local scale structural changes of working OFET devices. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:2434-2438. [PMID: 31746902 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr07905j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We present an in situ nanobeam grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (nanoGIXD) study of real-sized organic field effect transistors (OFET) under applied voltage. The nano-sized beam allows for spatially resolved monitoring of the structural behavior across the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer channel and the interfacial regions of the source and drain gold electrodes before and after the operation cycle. We observe major alterations of the gold contacts, in particular diffusion of Au atoms into the polymer channel and a local reorientation of the recrystallized Au nanocrystallites quantified by Hermans' orientation factors. Therefore, the initially sharp electrode-polymer interfaces are significantly modified as a result of device operation. Our findings demonstrate that nanoGIXD has a high potential to probe functionality and reliability of working organic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Grodd
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57072 Siegen, Germany.
| | - E Mikayelyan
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57072 Siegen, Germany.
| | - T Dane
- ESRF - The European Synchrotron, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble 38043, France
| | - U Pietsch
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57072 Siegen, Germany.
| | - S Grigorian
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Walter-Flex-Straße 3, 57072 Siegen, Germany.
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4
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Lehmkühler F, Schulz F, Schroer MA, Frenzel L, Lange H, Grübel G. Local orientational order in self-assembled nanoparticle films: the role of ligand composition and salt. J Appl Crystallogr 2019. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576719007568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
An X-ray cross-correlation study of the local orientational order in self-assembled films made from PEGylated gold nanoparticles is presented. The local structure of this model system is dominated by four- and sixfold order. Coadsorption of shorter ligands in the particle's ligand layer and variation of salt concentration in the suspension prior to self-assembly result in a change of local orientational order. The degree of sixfold order is reduced after salt addition. This decrease of order is less pronounced for the fourfold symmetry. The results presented here suggest complex symmetry-selective order formation upon ligand exchange and salt addition and demonstrate the versatility of X-ray cross-correlation methods for nanoparticle superlattices.
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5
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Lehmkühler F, Schulz F, Schroer MA, Frenzel L, Lange H, Grübel G. Heterogeneous local order in self-assembled nanoparticle films revealed by X-ray cross-correlations. IUCRJ 2018; 5:354-360. [PMID: 29755751 PMCID: PMC5929381 DOI: 10.1107/s2052252518005407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We report on the self-assembly of gold nanoparticles coated with a soft poly(ethylene glycol) shell studied by X-ray cross-correlation analysis. Depending on the initial concentration of gold nanoparticles used, structurally heterogeneous films were formed. The films feature hot spots of dominating four- and sixfold local order with patch sizes of a few micrometres, containing 104-105 particles. The amplitude of the order parameters suggested that a minimum sample amount was necessary to form well ordered local structures. Furthermore, the increasing variation in order parameters with sample thickness demonstrated a high degree of structural heterogeneity. This wealth of information cannot be obtained by the conventional microscopy techniques that are commonly used to study nanocrystal superstructures, as illustrated by complementary scanning electron microscopy measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Lehmkühler
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Florian Schulz
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin A. Schroer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lara Frenzel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Holger Lange
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Hamburg, Grindelallee 117, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gerhard Grübel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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6
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Lehmkühler F, Fischer B, Müller L, Ruta B, Grübel G. Structure beyond pair correlations: X-ray cross-correlation from colloidal crystals. J Appl Crystallogr 2016; 49:2046-2052. [PMID: 27980511 PMCID: PMC5139993 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576716017313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The results of an X-ray cross-correlation analysis (XCCA) study on hard-sphere colloidal crystals and glasses are presented. The article shows that cross-correlation functions can be used to extract structural information beyond the static structure factor in such systems. In particular, the powder average can be overcome by accessing the crystals' unit-cell structure. In this case, the results suggest that the crystal is of face-centered cubic type. It is demonstrated that XCCA is a valuable tool for X-ray crystallography, in particular for studies on colloidal systems. These are typically characterized by a rather poor crystalline quality due to size polydispersity and limitations in experimental resolution because of the small q values probed. Furthermore, nontrivial correlations are observed that allow a more detailed insight into crystal structures beyond conventional crystallography, especially to extend knowledge in structure formation processes and phase transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Lehmkühler
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Fischer
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Leonard Müller
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Beatrice Ruta
- ESRF – The European Synchrotron, 71 avenue des Martyrs, CS 40220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Gerhard Grübel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Centre for Ultrafast Imaging, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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7
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Schroer MA, Westermeier F, Lehmkühler F, Conrad H, Schavkan A, Zozulya AV, Fischer B, Roseker W, Sprung M, Gutt C, Grübel G. Colloidal crystallite suspensions studied by high pressure small angle x-ray scattering. J Chem Phys 2016; 144:084903. [PMID: 26931722 DOI: 10.1063/1.4941563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on high pressure small angle x-ray scattering on suspensions of colloidal crystallites in water. The crystallites made out of charge-stabilized poly-acrylate particles exhibit a complex pressure dependence which is based on the specific pressure properties of the suspending medium water. The dominant effect is a compression of the crystallites caused by the compression of the water. In addition, we find indications that also the electrostatic properties of the system, i.e. the particle charge and the dissociation of ions, might play a role for the pressure dependence of the samples. The data further suggest that crystallites in a metastable state induced by shear-induced melting can relax to a similar structural state upon the application of pressure and dilution with water. X-ray cross correlation analysis of the two-dimensional scattering patterns indicates a pressure-dependent increase of the orientational order of the crystallites correlated with growth of these in the suspension. This study underlines the potential of pressure as a very relevant parameter to understand colloidal crystallite systems in aqueous suspension.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Schroer
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Westermeier
- Max-Planck-Institut für Struktur und Dynamik der Materie, CFEL, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Lehmkühler
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - H Conrad
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Schavkan
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - A V Zozulya
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - B Fischer
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - W Roseker
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Sprung
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - C Gutt
- Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, 57072 Siegen, Germany
| | - G Grübel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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8
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Li F, Liu Z, Sun T. Annular beam high-intensity X-ray diffraction based on an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary. J Appl Crystallogr 2016. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576716000376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This short communication presents a study of the use of an annular X-ray beam produced by an ellipsoidal single-bounce monocapillary (ESBC) to perform focal construct geometry (FCG) high-intensity angular-dispersive X-ray diffraction (ADXRD) in transmission mode. The ESBC optic effectively focused a large focal spot X-ray source into a smaller focal spot and produced a narrowed X-ray ring in the far-field pattern when combined with a beam stop. A CCD imaging detector was linearly translated along the principal axis of the ESBC-FCG and obtained the corresponding sequential images of diffraction concentric circular caustics and convergence points, which were formed by the constructive interference of a continuous set of Debye cones arising from the annular interrogation volume. Pixels from the central region of an approximately 0.6 mm2 area were interrogated on each sequential image; as a result, a one-dimensional diffractogram of an aluminium oxide sample was revealed. The presented ESBC-FCG ADXRD technique shows potential for increasing the diffracted intensity and streamlining the operation of crystallographic analysis.
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9
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Schroer MA, Gutt C, Lehmkühler F, Fischer B, Steinke I, Westermeier F, Sprung M, Grübel G. Nano-beam X-ray microscopy of dried colloidal films. SOFT MATTER 2015; 11:5465-72. [PMID: 26061482 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm00609k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report on a nano-beam small angle X-ray scattering study on densely-packed, dried binary films made out of spherical silica particles with radii of 11.2 and 19.3 nm. For these three-dimensional thin films prepared by drop casting, only a finite number of colloidal particles contributes to the scattering signal due to the small beam size of 400 × 400 nm(2). By scanning the samples, the structure and composition of the silica particle films are determined spatially resolved revealing spatial heterogeneities in the films. Three different types of domains were identified: regions containing mainly large particles, regions containing mainly small particles, and regions where both particle species are mixed. Using the new angular X-ray cross-correlations analysis (XCCA) approach, spatial maps of the local type and degree of orientational order within the silica particle films are obtained. Whereas the mixed regions have dominant two-fold order, weaker four-fold and marginal six-fold order, regions made out of large particles are characterized by an overall reduced orientational order. Regions of small particles are highly ordered showing actually crystalline order. Distinct differences in the local particle order are observed by analyzing sections through the intensity and XCCA maps. The different degree of order can be understood by the different particle size polydispersities. Moreover, we show that preferential orientations of the particle domains can be studied by cross-correlation analysis yielding information on particle film formation. We find patches of preferential order with an average size of 8-10 μm. Thus, by this combined X-ray cross-correlation microscopy (XCCM) approach the structure and orientational order of films made out of nanometer sized colloids can be determined. This method will allow to reveal the local structure and order of self-assembled structures with different degree of order in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Schroer
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
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10
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Masters RC, Pearson AJ, Glen TS, Sasam FC, Li L, Dapor M, Donald AM, Lidzey DG, Rodenburg C. Sub-nanometre resolution imaging of polymer-fullerene photovoltaic blends using energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6928. [PMID: 25906738 PMCID: PMC4423221 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The resolution capability of the scanning electron microscope has increased immensely in recent years, and is now within the sub-nanometre range, at least for inorganic materials. An equivalent advance has not yet been achieved for imaging the morphologies of nanostructured organic materials, such as organic photovoltaic blends. Here we show that energy-selective secondary electron detection can be used to obtain high-contrast, material-specific images of an organic photovoltaic blend. We also find that we can differentiate mixed phases from pure material phases in our data. The lateral resolution demonstrated is twice that previously reported from secondary electron imaging. Our results suggest that our energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy approach will be able to make major inroads into the understanding of complex, nano-structured organic materials. Morphological characterization of organic photovoltaic active layers is restricted by the lack of accurate chemical mapping tools. Here, the authors demonstrate an energy-filtered scanning electron microscopy technique, which enables sub-nanometre resolution imaging of an organic photovoltaic blend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Masters
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
| | - Andrew J Pearson
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Tom S Glen
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Fabian-Cyril Sasam
- FEI Co. Europe NanoPort, Achtseweg Noord 5, Eindhoven, 5651 GG, The Netherlands
| | - Letian Li
- FEI Co. Europe NanoPort, Achtseweg Noord 5, Eindhoven, 5651 GG, The Netherlands
| | - Maurizio Dapor
- European Centre for Theoretical Studies in Nuclear Physics and Related Areas (ECT*-FBK) and Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (TIFPA-INFN), via Sommarive 18, Trento I-38123, Italy
| | - Athene M Donald
- Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory, 19 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - David G Lidzey
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK
| | - Cornelia Rodenburg
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK
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