Abstract: The origin of the incommensurability in the crystallographic shear (CS) structure of the ferri-Manganite (Sr0.61Pb0.18)(Fe0.75Mn0.25)O2.29, related to the cation deficient perovskite, has been determined by careful analysis of the boundaries between the two variants constituting the phasoid. High Resolution Electron Microscopy/HAADF-STEM images allow the structural mechanisms to be understood through the presence of structural units common to both phases, responsible of the incommensurate character observed in the electron diffraction patterns. The structural analysis allows for identifying different types of CS phases in the Pb−Sr−Fe(Mn)−O diagram and shows that the stabilization of the six-sided tunnels requires a higher A/B cationic ratio. A description of these phases is proposed through simple structural building units (SBU), based on chains of octahedra bordered by two pyramids. The (Sr0.61Pb0.18)(Fe0.75Mn0.25)O2.29 CS compound exhibits a strong antiferromagnetic and insulating behavior, similar to the Fe-2201 and terrace ferrites but differs by the presence of a hysteresis, with a small coercive field.

Abstract: Quantitative electron tomography is proposed to characterize porous materials at a nanoscale. To achieve reliable three-dimensional (3D) quantitative information, the influence of missing wedge artifacts and segmentation methods is investigated. We are presenting the Discrete Algebraic Reconstruction Algorithm as the most adequate tomography method to measure porosity at the nanoscale. It provides accurate 3D quantitative information, regardless the presence of a missing wedge. As an example, we applied our approach to nanovoids in La2Zr2O7 thin films.

Abstract: A new mixed-valence ferrite, YBaFe4O7, has been synthesized. Its unique cubic structure, with a = 8.9595(2) Å, is closely related to that of the hexagonal 114 oxides YBaCo4O7 and CaBaFe4O7. It consists of corner-sharing FeO4 tetrahedra, forming triangular and kagome layers parallel to (111)C. In fact, the YBaFe4O7 and CaBaFe4O7 structures can be described as two different ccc and chch close packings of [BaO3]∞ and [O4]∞ layers, respectively, whose tetrahedral cavities are occupied by Fe2+/Fe3+ cations. The local structure of YBaFe4O7 is characterized by a large amount of stacking faults originating from the presence of hexagonal layers in the ccc cubic close-packed YBaFe4O7 structure. In this way, they belong to the large family of spinels and hexagonal ferrites studied for their magnetic properties. Differently from all the ferrites and especially from CaBaFe4O7, which are ferrimagnetic, YBaFe4O7 is an insulating spin glass with Tg = 50 K.

Abstract: Pd particles supported on SnO2 and GeO2 have been structurally investigated by X-ray diffraction, (High-Resolution) transmission and scanning electron microscopy after different reductive treatments to monitor the eventual formation of bimetallic phases and catalytically tested in methanol dehydrogenation/ reforming. For both oxides this included a thin film sample with well-defined Pd particles and a powder catalyst prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The hexagonal and the tetragonal polymorph were studied for powder GeO2. Pd2Ge formation was observed on all GeO2-supported catalysts, strongly depending on the specific sample used. Reduction of the thin film at 573K resulted in full transformation into the bimetallic state. The partial solubility of hexagonal GeO2 in water and its thermal structural instability yielded Pd2Ge formation at 473 K, at the cost of a structurally inhomogeneous support and Ge metal formation at higher reduction temperatures. Pd on tetragonal GeO2 entered a state of strong metalsupport interaction after reduction at 573673 K, resulting in coalescing Pd2Ge particles on a sintered and re-crystallized support, apparently partially covering the bimetallic particles and decreasing the catalytic activity. Pd2Ge on amorphous thin film and hexagonal GeO2 converted methanol primarily via dehydrogenation to CO and H2. At 573 K, formation of Pd2Sn and also PdSn occurred on the Pd/SnO2 thin film. Pd3Sn2 (and to some extent Pd2Sn) were predominantly obtained on the respective powder catalyst. Strong deactivation with increasing reduction temperature was observed, likely not based on the classical strong metalsupport interaction effect, but rather on a combination of missing active structural ensembles on Sn-enriched bimetallic phases and the formation of metallic -Sn. Correlations to Pd and its bimetallics supported on ZnO, Ga2O3 and In2O3 were also discussed.

Abstract: The present work is devoted to the preparation of Ag/TiO2 nanosystems by an original synthetic strategy, based on the radio-frequency (RF) sputtering of silver particles on titania-based xerogels prepared by the sol-gel (SG) route. This approach takes advantage of the synergy between the microporous xerogel structure and the infiltration power characterizing RF-sputtering, whose combination enables the obtainment of a tailored dispersion of Ag-containing particles into the titania matrix. In addition, the systems chemico-physical features can be tuned further through proper ex situ thermal treatments in air at 400 and 600 °C. The synthesized composites are extensively characterized by the joint use of complementary techniques, that is, X-ray photoelectron and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopies (XPS, XE-AES), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), glancing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction (ED), high-angle annular dark field scanning TEM (HAADF-STEM), energy-filtered TEM (EF-TEM) and optical absorption spectroscopy. Finally, the photocatalytic performances of selected samples in the decomposition of the azo-dye Plasmocorinth B are preliminarily investigated. The obtained results highlight the possibility of tailoring the system characteristics over a broad range, directly influencing their eventual functional properties.

Abstract: Epitaxial rare earth manganite thin films (ReMnO3; Re = Tb, Ho, Er, and Y) and multilayers were grown by liquid injection metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on YSZ(111) and the same systems were grown c-oriented on Pt(111) buffered Si substrates. They have been structurally investigated by electron diffraction (ED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Nanodomains of secondary orientation are observed in the hexagonal YMnO3 films. They are related to a YSZ(111) and Pt(111) misorientation. The epitaxial film thickness has an influence on the defect formation. TbO2 and Er2O3 inclusions are observed in the TbMnO3 and ErMnO3 films respectively. The structure and orientation of these inclusions are correlated to the resembling symmetry and structure of film and substrate. The type of defect formed in the YMnO3/HoMnO3 and YMnO3/ErMnO3 multilayers is also influenced by the type of substrate they are grown on. In our work, atomic growth models for the interface between the film/substrate are proposed and verified by comparison with observed and computer simulated images.

Abstract: The Fe2(Sr2 − xAx)FeO6.5 − ä/2 systems have been investigated, by doping the iron rich 2201-type parent structure with Ba2+, La3+ and 5d10 post-transition cations. The syntheses have been carried out up to the limit of the 2201-type solid solutions, in order to test the role of the double iron layer Fe2O2.5 − ä/2. The localisation of the charge carriers in these compounds is consistent with their strong antiferro-magnetism. The investigation was then carried out in the transition part of the diagram up to the formation of stable phases. The study of structural mechanisms was carried using high resolution electron microscopy (transmission and scanning transmission), electron diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Different non-stoichiometry mechanisms are observed, depending on the electronic structure and chemical properties of the doping elements. The specific behavior of the modulated double iron layer is discussed.

Abstract: The recent creation of electron vortex beams and their first practical application motivates a better understanding of their properties. Here, we develop the theory of free electron vortices with quantized angular momentum, based on solutions of the Schrödinger equation for cylindrical boundary conditions. The principle of transformation of a plane wave into vortices with quantized angular momentum, their paraxial propagation through round magnetic lenses, and the effect of partial coherence are discussed.

Abstract: Recording the electron energy loss spectroscopy data cube with a series of energy filtered images is a dose inefficient process because the energy slit blocks most of the electrons. When recording the data cube by scanning an electron probe over the sample, perfect dose efficiency is attained; but due to the low current in nanoprobes, this often is slower, with a smaller field of view. In W. Van den Broek et al. [Ultramicroscopy, 106 (2006) 269], we proposed a new method to record the data cube, which is more dose efficient than an energy filtered series. It produces a set of projections of the data cube and then tomographically reconstructs it. In this article, we demonstrate these projections in practice, we present a simple geometrical model that allows for quantification of the projection angles and we present the first successful experimental reconstruction, all on a standard post-column instrument.

Abstract: For the composition (Sr0.61Pb0.18)(Fe0.75Mn0.25)O2.29, a new modulated crystallographic shear structure, related to perovskite, has been synthesized and structurally characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The structure can be described using a monoclinic supercell with cell parameters am = 27.595(2) Å, bm = 3.8786(2) Å, cm = 13.3453(9) Å, and βm = 100.126(5)°, refined from powder X-ray diffraction data. The incommensurate crystallographic shear phases require an alternative approach using the superspace formalism. This allows a unified description of the incommensurate phases from a monoclinically distorted perovskite unit cell and a modulation wave vector. The structure deduced from the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and high-angle annular dark-field−scanning transmission electron microscopy images is that of a 1/2[110]p(203)p crystallographic shear structure. The structure follows the concept of a phasoid, with two coexisting variants with the same unit cell. The difference is situated at the translational interface, with the local formation of double (phase 2) or single (phase 1) tunnels, where the Pb cations are likely located.

Abstract: The microporous and activated zeolitic imidazolate framework (Zn(MeIM)2; MeIM = imidazolate-2-methyl; ZIF-8) was loaded with the MOCVD precursor diethyl zinc [Zn(C2H5)2]. Exposure of ZIF-8 to the vapour of the volatile organometallic molecule resulted in the formation of the inclusion compound [Zn(C2H5)2]0.38@ZIF-8 revealing two precursor molecules per cavity. In a second step the obtained material was treated with oxygen (5 vol% in argon) at various temperatures (oxidative annealing) to achieve the composite material ZnO0.35@ZIF-8. The new material was characterized with powder XRD, FT-IR, UV-vis, solid state NMR, elemental analysis, N2 sorption measurements, and transmission electron microscopy. The data give evidence for the presence of nano-sized ZnO particles stabilized by ZIF-8 showing a blue-shift of the UV-vis absorption caused by quantum size effect (QSE). The surface structure and reactivity of embedded ZnO nanoparticles were characterized via carbon dioxide adsorption at different temperatures monitored by ultra-high vacuum FTIR techniques. It was found that the surface of ZnO nanoparticles is dominated by polar OZnO and ZnZnO facets as well as by defect sites, which all exhibit high reactivity towards CO2 activation forming various adsorbed carbonate and chemisorbed CO2δ− species.

Abstract: According to theory, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism in a synchrotron is equivalent to energy loss magnetic chiral dichroism (EMCD) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). After a synopsis of the development of EMCD, the theoretical background is reviewed and recent results are presented, focusing on the study of magnetic nanoparticles for ferrofluids and Heusler alloys for spintronic devices. Simulated maps of the dichroic strength as a function of atom position in the crystal allow evaluating the influence of specimen thickness and sample tilt on the experimental EMCD signal. Finally, the possibility of direct observation of chiral electronic transitions with atomic resolution in a TEM is discussed.

Abstract: Self-assembly (SA) of nanostructures has recently gained increasing interest. A clear understanding of the process is not straightforward since SA of nanoparticles is a complex multiscale phenomenon including different driving forces. Here, we study the SA between aluminum doped ZnO nanopyramids into couples by combining inorganic chemistry and advanced electron microscopy techniques with atomistic simulations. Our results show that the SA of the coupled nanopyramids is controlled first by morphology, as coupling only occurs in the case of pyramids with well-developed facets of the basal planes. The combination of electron microscopy and atomistic modeling reveals that the coupling is further driven by strong ligandligand interaction between the bases of the pyramids as dominant force, while screening effects due to Al doping or solvent as well as corecore interaction are only minor contributions. Our combined approach provides a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between the interactions at work in the coupled SA of ZnO nanopyramids.