Starting in the 1950s and continuing over the next two decades, field ion microscopy (FIM) became the first true atomic-scale microscopy technique [1], allowing for the direct imaging of individual atom positions on a material's surface with sub-angstrom precision [2]. By controlling the field evaporation of atoms from the surface, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction can be achieved...
During the last few decades, Atom Probe Tomography (APT) has proven itself as one of the best material characterization tools due to the combination of atomic resolution and 3D reconstruction capabilities. Still, there are some limitations, as the crystallographic information obtained from APT data is limited. To tackle that issue, a correlative approach of combined Transmission Electron...
Rene Chemnitzer (Cameca)
“Technology and Applications of the LEAP 6000XR and Invizo 6000 atom probes”
AdAPTS: An Adaptive Atom Probe Tomography Simulation Library
Cryogenic sample preparation for atom probe tomography is becoming more widespread and has allowed the analysis of many new material systems including frozen liquids, solid/liquid interfaces and soft matter. Much of the work has been adapted from the life sciences where temperature control is very stringent and restrict the user to temperatures below the vitrification point of water,...
The current materials science research and industrial development needs bring new challenges of analyzing unconventional samples inside a FIB-SEM, such as liquid form samples, solid liquid inter-face samples, and other soft and beam sensitive samples. Often, such materials tend to be air sen-sitive as well. Hence, an inert gas filled glove box is also needed in sample handling. Prior to the...
The new technological improvement of all type of materials, including functional, semiconductors, micro-electro-mechanical, medical, needs a proper microstructure investigation from mm- up to nmscale. One of the most used techniques is the focused ion beam (FIB), with a Ga+ beam for materials removal and specimen preparation for much high resolution techniques such as (TEM, APT ,..etc )....
A major challenge with cryogenic atom probe sample preparation is that Gas Injection System based deposition is generally unsuitable to liftout and mount samples to support structures due to a lack of control of deposition. Developments in localized in-situ sputtering of metals have avoided this issue and have facilitated mounting of samples for many material systems requiring cryogenic...
The energy transition relies on materials with complex and dynamic interfaces involving low atomic weight and mobile liquid, solid, and gaseous species. Understanding the chemistry, phase, and morphology of these interfaces at high-resolution length scales is crucial for optimising their behaviour and performance. However, existing high-resolution imaging and characterisation techniques...
APT analysis of Li-containing materials: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Understanding how high electric fields influence metal surfaces is essential for advancing atomic-scale characterization techniques. In this talk, I will present our theoretical investigations into electric field effects on metals, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations to provide insights relevant to experimental observations.
Firstly, we investigate vacancy formation in Ni and...
Local contrast in FIM - opportunities and limits of interpretation by comparison to theory
Recent treatments of field-ion (FI) imaging theory (e.g., [1]) differ from older treatments (e.g., [2]). Modern theories consider the availability of in-specimen final electron states. Particularly with alloy specimens, this is long overdue and welcome. However, aspects of modern theories seem incompatible with older theories firmly backed by experiment, or incompatible with scientific...
This presentation will cover ongoing work that integrates machine learning (ML) and data science methods with Atom Probe Tomography (APT) data analysis. The primary objective is to develop a tool (APyT) that automates APT data processing and analysis routines. Additionally, the project aims to create an interface between APyT and existing commercial software like AP Suite to streamline...
In solids, chemical short-range order (CSRO) refers to the self-organisation of atoms of certain species occupying specific crystal sites. CSRO is increasingly being envisaged as a lever to tailor the mechanical and functional properties of materials. CSRO is typically characterized indirectly, using volume-averaged (e.g. X-ray/neutron scattering) or through projection microscopy techniques...
Atom probe tomography is frequently employed to characterize the elemental distributionin solids with atomic resolution. Here we review and discuss the potential of this techniqueto locally probe chemical bonds. Two processes characterize the bond rupture in laser-assisted field emission, the probability of molecular ions, i.e. the probability that molecularions (PMI) are evaporated instead of...
When measuring heterogeneous samples with atom probe tomography (APT), the different evaporation behaviour of the materials can lead to non-hemispherical apex topographies [1]. Because the local curvature is one of the main factors determining the ion trajectories, any deviation from a hemispherical shape can lead to locally varying magnifications and therefore, spatial inaccuracies [2]. In...
Strontium titanate (STO) is a material with promising properties for applications in thermoelectricity, catalysis, fuel cells and other fields but its properties are highly sensitive to stoichiometry and the presence of impurities and other defects, particularly grain boundaries. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been instrumental in studying the atomic-scale structure of STO;...
The beauty of Bismuth-based layered oxy-chalcogenide is their two distinct alternatively stacked layered structure having completely different chemical bonds in each layer i.e., oxide layer and chalcogen layer. This interesting layered structure allows the tuning of properties and can make a potential candidate in different fields such as thermoelectrics. For a thermoelectric device, Bi2O2Se...
M. Krämer$^a$, I. Dudko$^{b,c}$, A.D. Lamirand$^b$, C. Botella$^b$, P. Regreny$^b$, A. Danescu$^b$, M. Bugnet$^d$, S. Walia$^c$, J. Penuelas$^b$, N. Chauvin$^b$ and B. Gault$^{a,e}$
(a) Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, Max-Planck-Straße 1, 40237 Düsseldorf, Germany
(b) Ecole Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CPE Lyon, INL, UMR 5270,...
Additive manufacturing of Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets through laser powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) provides opportunities for microstructural manipulation leading to novel combination of properties. Additivation of the feedstock powder with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) improves the coercivity of PBF-LB/M-produced Nd-Fe-B magnets by 17 ± 6% in as-built conditions (935 kA/m) compared to the...
Multiferroic antiperovskite materials have shown considerable promise in recent years due to functionalities enabled by the coupling between their magnetic, mechanical, or electronic properties, leading to potential applications in sensors, transduers, spintronics, and novel memory devices. Understanding this coupling, and most importantly reliably controlling it with the application of...
Increasing environmental concerns have emphasized the significance of hydrogen and its production through sustainable routes. Hydrogen generation by water electrolysis has been considered an effective and environmentally friendly approach in which catalysis or electrocatalysis plays a vital role. Up to now, catalysts based on platinum group materials have dominated the market, with platinum...
Grain boundaries (GBs) critically impact the mechanical, electrical, and catalytic properties of polycrystalline materials, making their investigation essential for material science progress. Atom probe tomography (APT) offers an advanced technique for atomic-scale analysis of GBs, generating three-dimensional compositional maps with sub-nanometer resolution. Using APT, we can directly observe...
Dealloying corrosion has become a popular method for obtaining highly functional nanoporous gold (NPG) substrates1. The selective dissolution of Ag from AgAu solid solutions in acidic environments leads to the formation of an open-pore, bicontinuous 3D, nanoporous structure. Using thin film precursors, as opposed to solid-solution alloys, facilitates easier integration of NPG into energy...
This study focuses on the influence of laser wavelength and pulse energy on the elemental accuracy of atom probe tomography (APT) analysis of stoichiometric TiN coatings. By utilizing three different commercial atom probe systems — LEAP 3000X HR, LEAP 5000 XR, and LEAP 6000 XR — it is illuminated how short laser wavelengths, especially those in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) range, impact the...
Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise and with it, the expected number of scrap or end-of-life batteries. Since battery production from raw materials is energy-intensive and environmentally burdensome, it is economically beneficial to recycle batteries than to dispose them. However, the diverse range of cathode materials makes the recycling process complex, as the purity standards are...
Atom Probe Tomography (APT) can be used to analyze the structure of matter at the smallest scales, such as grain boundaries, dislocations or even atomic planes in certain special cases. As such, APT can be used to study dynamic strain-ageing in steels, which relies on the segregation of free interstitials (C and N) on dislocations. Surprisingly, very few studies regarding the segregation on...
Zn-based alloys have considerable potential as bioresorbable scaffolds for implants. Alloying with Mg or Ag enhances both biocompatibility and mechanical properties through precipitation strengthening and grain refinement during material production. Here we seek to advance the understanding of the precipitation mechanisms in Zn-Mg-(Ag) alloys prepared by a combination of mechanical alloying...
Nanocrystalline (NC) Pd-Au prepared by inert gas condensation exhibits
fractal abnormal grain growth during heat treatment. The resulting
microstructure is characterized by a bimodal grain size distribution
with micrometer-sized grains (FG) embedded in a matrix of NC
grains (NG). To elucidate this unusual manifestation of grain growth,
we analyzed FG and NG bulk regions, as well
as the...
Microscopy of atom probe needles and how this might inform data reconstruction protocols
