A Liquid Metal Encapsulation for Analyzing Porous Nanomaterials by Atom Probe Tomography
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Analyzing porous (nano)materials via atom probe tomography has been notoriously difficult. Voids and pores act as concentrators of the electrostatic pressure, which results in premature specimen failure, and the electrostatic field distribution near voids leads to aberrations that are difficult to predict. In this study, we propose a new encapsulating method for porous samples using a low melting point Bi–In–Sn alloy, known as Field's metal. As a model material, we used porous iron made by direct-hydrogen reduction of single-crystalline wüstite. The complete encapsulation was performed using in situ heating on the stage of a scanning electron microscope. No visible corrosion nor dissolution of the sample occurred. Subsequently, specimens were shaped by focused ion-beam milling under cryogenic conditions at −190°C. The proposed approach is versatile and can be applied to provide good quality atom probe datasets from micro/nanoporous materials.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced Materials Characterization Techniques · Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals · Fusion materials and technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung , Düsseldorf, Germany
Imperial College London Department of Materials, Royal School of Mines, , London, UK
Funding
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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