Abstract: The effects of amorphous layers on the quality of exit wave restorations have been investigated. Two independently developed software implementations for exit wave restoration have been used to simulated focal series of images of SrTiO3 with amorphous carbon layers incorporated. The restored exit waves have been compared both qualitatively and quantitatively. We have shown that amorphous layers have a strong impact on the quantitative measurements of atomic column positions, however, the error in the position measurements is still in the picometer range.

Abstract: Sunlight-driven hydrogen production via photoreforming of aqueous solutions containing renewable compounds is an attractive option for sustainable energy generation with reduced carbon footprint. Nevertheless, the absence of photocatalysts combining high efficiency and stability upon solar light activation has up to date strongly hindered the development of this technology. Herein, two scarcely investigated iron(III) oxide polymorphs, β- and ε-Fe2O3, possessing a remarkable activity in sunlight-activated H2 generation from aqueous solutions of renewable oxygenates (i.e., ethanol, glycerol, glucose) are reported. For β-Fe2O3 and ε-Fe2O3, H2 production rates up to 225 and 125 mmol h−1 m−2 are obtained, with significantly superior performances with respect to the commonly investigated α-Fe2O3.

Abstract: This HREM investigation focuses on the influence of point defects on the final epitaxial relation and atomic interface configuration in a CoSi2/Si(1 0 0) heterostructure. A two-step SPE-MBE grown CoSi2/Si(1 0 0) system is used and, by altering the number of deposited Co monolayers in the template layer, the point defect behavior is studied. We propose a film growth model in which the knowledge about the reconstructed (2 x 1) : Si(1 0 0) surface, the point defect behavior in the presence of an interface, especially a silicide interface, the migration of point defects through a lattice by formation of [1 0 0]-split interstitial (dumbbell) atomic configurations, and a new type of extended defect configurations in diamond type materials will all amalgamate. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: We deposited La2-xGdxZr2O7 seed layers by a chemical solution method on a Ni-5%W substrate to study the influence of these layers on the growth process of a 60 nm-thick La2Zr2O7 layer. We measured the performances of these new buffer layers integrated in a coated conductor with a 300 nm-thick Y0.5Gd0.5Ba2Cu3O7-x layer. For the seed layers{,} we considered two different gadolinium contents (x = 0.2 and x = 0.8) and three different thicknesses for these compositions (20 nm{,} 40 nm{,} and 60 nm). The most promising buffer layer stacks are those with 20 nm of the La1.8Gd0.2Zr2O7 layer or La1.2Gd0.8Zr2O7. Indeed the La2-xGdxZr2O7/La2Zr2O7 films are highly textured{,} similar to a 100 nm-thick La2Zr2O7 layer{,} but their roughness is four times lower. Moreover they contain less and smaller pores in the seed layer than a pure La2Zr2O7 layer. The surface of La2Zr2O7 is also homogenous and crystalline with an orientation deviation from the ideal ?011? (100) direction below 10[degree]. With the 20 nm La2-xGdxZr2O7 seed layers we obtain in the coated conductors an efficiently textured transfer with no gradual degradation from the substrate throughout the superconducting layer. The highest Tc and Jc values are achieved with the La1.8Gd0.2Zr2O7 layer and are{,} respectively{,} 91 K and 1.4 MA cm-2. This trend seems to be due to an improvement of the surface quality of the Ni5%W substrate by the addition of a thin seed layer. Our results offer the potential of the La2-xGdxZr2O7 seed layers as promising alternatives for the classic Ni-5%W/LZO/CeO2/YBCO architectures.

Abstract: Variations in local bond length and coordination in boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films have been studied through changes in the fine structure of boron and carbon K-edges in electron energy-loss spectra, acquired in a scanning transmission electron microscope. The presence of high concentrations of B in pristine diamond regions and enrichment of B at defects in single NCD grains is demonstrated. Local bond length variations are evidenced through an energy shift of the carbon 1s → σ* edge at B-rich defective regions within single diamond grains, indicating an expansion of the diamond bond length at sites with local high B content.

Abstract: The increasing need for precise determination of the atomic arrangement of non-periodic structures in materials design and the control of nanostructures explains the growing interest in quantitative transmission electron microscopy. The aim is to extract precise and accurate numbers for unknown structure parameters including atomic positions, chemical concentrations and atomic numbers. For this purpose, statistical parameter estimation theory has been shown to provide reliable results. In this theory, observations are considered purely as data planes, from which structure parameters have to be determined using a parametric model describing the images. As such, the positions of atom columns can be measured with a precision of the order of a few picometres, even though the resolution of the electron microscope is still one or two orders of magnitude larger. Moreover, small differences in average atomic number, which cannot be distinguished visually, can be quantified using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy images. In addition, this theory allows one to measure compositional changes at interfaces, to count atoms with single-atom sensitivity, and to reconstruct atomic structures in three dimensions. This feature article brings the reader up to date, summarizing the underlying theory and highlighting some of the recent applications of quantitative model-based transmisson electron microscopy.

Abstract: The transport and magnetic measurements of polycrystalline Pb1.6V8O16 hollandite reveal a concomitant metal to insulator and antiferromagnetic transition at TMI≈140 K. A clear localization is found below TMI, evidenced by a rapid increase in the absolute value of the negative Seebeck coefficient. The structural study by x-ray and transmission electron microscopy confirms the hollandite structure and shows that no structural transition occurs at TMI, ruling out a possible charge orbital ordering. The negative Seebeck coefficient observed from 50 K up to 900 K, with values reaching S=−38 μV K−1 at 900 K, is explained by the electron doping of ∼1.4e− in the V empty t2g orbitals responsible for the bad metal resistivity (ρ900 K∼2 mΩ cm). As this S value is close to that obtained by considering only the spin and orbital degeneracies, it is expected that |S| for such vanadates will not be sensitive at high temperature to the t2g band filling

Abstract: The uniform dispersion of functional oxide nanoparticles on the walls of ordered mesoporous silica to tailor optical, electronic, and magnetic properties for biomedical and environmental applications is a scientific challenge. Here, we demonstrate homogeneous confined growth of 5 nanometer-sized hematite iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) inside mesochannels of ordered mesoporous COK-12 nanoplates. The three-dimensional inclusion of the α-Fe2O3 nanorods in COK-12 particles is studied using high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and electron tomography. High resolution imaging and EDX spectroscopy provide information about the particle size, shape and crystal phase of the loaded α-Fe2O3 material, while electron tomography provides detailed information on the spreading of the nanorods throughout the COK-12 host. This nanocomposite material, having a semiconductor band gap energy of 2.40 eV according to diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, demonstrates an improved visible light photocatalytic degradation activity with rhodamine 6G and 1-adamantanol model compounds.

Abstract: Defects on hollow silica spheres synthesized in a tetraethylorthosilicate-octylamine-HCl-H2O system were recorded by scanning microscope. Based on the results, influences of synthesis composition on the formation of these defects are discussed. It is evidenced that products prepared with different octylamine-to-tetraethylorthosilicate ratios may have surface depressions, cracks and non-hollow microspheres. However, by changing water and acid additions, these defects could be reduced or eliminated. Generally, samples synthesized with a large octylamine addition commonly exhibit surface depressions. A small octylamine or a large water addition benefits the formation of solid silica microspheres among the product. Acid, although is not indispensable for the formation of hollow spheres, helps to eliminate or reduce depressions on the hollow shells. It is explained that the added acid gives rise to a relative localized fast hydrolysis versus condensation, facilitating an easy mobility of hydrolyzed silica species, and consequently the shell surface is smoothened.