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“Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the Cr-doped spiral antiferromagnet BiMnFe2O6”. Batuk D, de Dobbelaere C, Tsirlin AA, Abakumov AM, Hardy A, van Bael MK, Greenblatt M, Hadermann J, Materials research bulletin 48, 2993 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2013.04.038
Abstract: We report the Cr3+ for Mn3+ substitution in the BiMnFe2O6 structure. The BiCrxMn1-xFe2O6 solid solution is obtained by the solution-gel synthesis technique for the x values up to 0.3. The crystal structure investigation using a combination of X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that the compounds retain the parent BiMnFe2O6 structure (for x = 0.3, a = 5.02010(6)angstrom, b = 7.06594(7)angstrom, c = 12.6174(1)angstrom, S.G. Pbcm, R-1 = 0.036, R-p = 0.011) with only a slight decrease in the cell parameters associated with the Cr3+ for Mn3+ substitution. Magnetic susceptibility measurements suggest strong similarities in the magnetic behavior of BiCrxMn1-xFe2O6 (x = 0.2; 0.3) and parent BiMnFe2O6. Only T-N slightly decreases upon Cr doping that indicates a very subtle influence of Cr3+ cations on the magnetic properties at the available substitution rates. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.446
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2013.04.038
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“Dedicated TEM on domain boundaries from phase transformations and crystal growth”. Schryvers D, Van Aert S, Delville R, Idrissi H, Turner S, Salje EKH, Phase transitions 86, 15 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1080/01411594.2012.694435
Abstract: Investigating domain boundaries and their effects on the behaviour of materials automatically implies the need for detailed knowledge on the structural aspects of the atomic configurations at these interfaces. Not only in view of nearest neighbour interactions but also at a larger scale, often surpassing the unit cell, the boundaries can contain structural elements that do not exist in the bulk. In the present contribution, a number of special boundaries resulting from phase transformations or crystal growth and those recently investigated by advanced transmission electron microscopy techniques in different systems will be reviewed. These include macrotwins between microtwinned martensite plates in NiAl, austenite-single variant martensite habit planes in low hysteresis NiTiPd, nanotwins in non-textured nanostructured Pd and ferroelastic domain boundaries in CaTiO3. In all discussed cases these boundaries play an essential role in the properties of the respective materials.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.06
DOI: 10.1080/01411594.2012.694435
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“Defect engineering in oxide heterostructures by enhanced oxygen surface exchange”. Huijben M, Koster G, Kruize MK, Wenderich S, Verbeeck J, Bals S, Slooten E, Shi B, Molegraaf HJA, Kleibeuker JE, Van Aert S, Goedkoop JB, Brinkman A, Blank DHA, Golden MS, Van Tendeloo G, Hilgenkamp H, Rijnders G;, Advanced functional materials 23, 5240 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201203355
Abstract: The synthesis of materials with well-controlled composition and structure improves our understanding of their intrinsic electrical transport properties. Recent developments in atomically controlled growth have been shown to be crucial in enabling the study of new physical phenomena in epitaxial oxide heterostructures. Nevertheless, these phenomena can be influenced by the presence of defects that act as extrinsic sources of both doping and impurity scattering. Control over the nature and density of such defects is therefore necessary to fully understand the intrinsic materials properties and exploit them in future device technologies. Here, it is shown that incorporation of a strontium copper oxide nano-layer strongly reduces the impurity scattering at conducting interfaces in oxide LaAlO3SrTiO3(001) heterostructures, opening the door to high carrier mobility materials. It is proposed that this remote cuprate layer facilitates enhanced suppression of oxygen defects by reducing the kinetic barrier for oxygen exchange in the hetero-interfacial film system. This design concept of controlled defect engineering can be of significant importance in applications in which enhanced oxygen surface exchange plays a crucial role.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 12.124
Times cited: 87
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201203355
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“Degradation process of lead chromate in paintings by Vincent van Gogh studied by means of spectromicroscopic methods : 3 : synthesis, characterization, and detection of different crystal forms of the chrome yellow pigment”. Monico L, Janssens K, Miliani C, Brunetti BG, Vagnini M, Vanmeert F, Falkenberg G, Abakumov A, Lu Y, Tian H, Verbeeck J, Radepont M, Cotte M, Hendriks E, Geldof M, van der Loeff L, Salvant J, Menu M;, Analytical chemistry 85, 860 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/ac302158b
Abstract: The painter, Vincent van Gogh, and some of his contemporaries frequently made use of the pigment chrome yellow that is known to show a tendency toward darkening. This pigment may correspond to various chemical compounds such as PbCrO4 and PbCr1-xSxO4, that may each be present in various crystallographic forms with different tendencies toward degradation. Investigations by X-ray diffraction (XRD), mid-Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman instruments (benchtop and portable) and synchrotron radiation-based micro-XRD and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy performed on oil-paint models, prepared with in-house synthesized PbCrO4 and PbCr1-xSxO4, permitted us to characterize the spectroscopic features of the various forms. On the basis of these results, an extended study has been carried out on historic paint tubes and on embedded paint microsamples taken from yellow-orange/pale yellow areas of 12 Van Gogh paintings, demonstrating that Van Gogh effectively made use of different chrome yellow types. This conclusion was also confirmed by in situ mid-FTIR investigations on Van Goghs Portrait of Gauguin (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam).
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 6.32
Times cited: 79
DOI: 10.1021/ac302158b
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“Dimethylformamide-mediated synthesis of water-soluble platinum nanodendrites for ethanol oxidation electrocatalysis”. Mourdikoudis S, Chirea M, Altantzis T, Pastoriza-Santos I, Perez-Juste J, Silva F, Bals S, Liz-Marzan LM, Nanoscale 5, 4776 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1039/c3nr00924f
Abstract: Herein we describe the synthesis of water-soluble platinum nanodendrites in dimethylformamide (DMF), in the presence of polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a stabilizing agent. The average size of the dendrites is in the range of 20-25 nm while their porosity can be tuned by modifying the concentration of the metal precursor. Electron tomography revealed different crystalline orientations of nanocrystallites in the nanodendrites and allowed a better understanding of their peculiar branching and porosity. The high surface area of the dendrites (up to 22 m(2) g(-1)) was confirmed by BET measurements, while X-ray diffraction confirmed the abundance of high-index facets in the face-centered-cubic crystal structure of Pt. The prepared nanodendrites exhibit excellent performance in the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol in alkaline solution. Sensing, selectivity, cycleability and great tolerance toward poisoning were demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry measurements.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 7.367
Times cited: 50
DOI: 10.1039/c3nr00924f
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“Direct evidence of stacking disorder in the mixed ionic-electronic conductor Sr4Fe6O12+\delta”. Rossell MD, Abakumov AM, Ramasse QM, Erni R, ACS nano 7, 3078 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/nn3058449
Abstract: Determining the structure-to-property relationship of materials becomes particularly challenging when the material under investigation is dominated by defects and structural disorder. Knowledge on the exact atomic arrangement at the defective structure is required to understand its influence on the functional properties. However, standard diffraction techniques deliver structural information that is averaged over many unit cells. In particular, information about defects and order-disorder phenomena is contained in the coherent diffuse scattering intensity which often is difficult to uniquely interpret. Thus, the examination of the local disorder in materials requires a direct method to study their structure on the atomic level with chemical sensitivity. Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with atomic-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy, we show that the controversial structural arrangement of the Fe2O2+delta layers in the mixed ionic-electronic conducting Sr4Fe6O12+delta perovskite can be unambiguously resolved. Our results provide direct experimental evidence for the presence of a nanomixture of “ordered” and “disordered” domains in an epitaxial Sr4Fe6O12+delta thin film. The most favorable arrangement is the disordered structure and is interpreted as a randomly occurring but well-defined local shift of the Fe-O chains in the Fe2O2+delta layers. By analyzing the electron energy-loss near-edge structure of the different building blocks in the Sr4Fe6O12+delta unit cell we find that the mobile holes in this mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxide are highly localized in the Fe2O2+delta layers, which are responsible for the oxide-ion conductivity. A possible link between disorder and oxygen-ion transport along the Fe2O2+delta layers is proposed by arguing that the disorder can effectively break the oxygen diffusion pathways.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 13.942
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1021/nn3058449
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“Discovery of a superhard iron tetraboride superconductor”. Gou H, Dubrovinskaia N, Bykova E, Tsirlin AA, Kasinathan D, Schnelle W, Richter A, Merlini M, Hanfland M, Abakumov AM, Batuk D, Van Tendeloo G, Nakajima Y, Kolmogorov AN, Dubrovinsky L;, Physical review letters 111, 157002 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.157002
Abstract: Single crystals of novel orthorhombic (space group Pnnm) iron tetraboride FeB4 were synthesized at pressures above 8 GPa and high temperatures. Magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements demonstrate bulk superconductivity below 2.9 K. The putative isotope effect on the superconducting critical temperature and the analysis of specific heat data indicate that the superconductivity in FeB4 is likely phonon mediated, which is rare for Fe-based superconductors. The discovered iron tetraboride is highly incompressible and has the nanoindentation hardness of 62(5) GPa; thus, it opens a new class of highly desirable materials combining advanced mechanical properties and superconductivity.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 127
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.157002
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“Dynamic motion of Ru-polyoxometalate ions (POMs) on functionalized few-layer graphene”. Ke X, Turner S, Quintana M, Hadad C, Montellano-López A, Carraro M, Sartorel A, Bonchio M, Prato M, Bittencourt C, Van Tendeloo G;, Small 9, 3922 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201300378
Abstract: The interaction and stability of Ru4POM on few layer graphene via functional groups is investigated by time-dependent imaging using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. The Ru4POM demonstrates dynamic motion on the graphene surface with its frequency and amplitude of rotation related to the nature of the functional group used. The stability of the Ru4POMgraphene hybrid corroborates its long-term robustness when applied to multielectronic catalytic processes.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.643
Times cited: 16
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201300378
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“Effect of annealing on the transformation behavior and mechanical properties of two nanostructured Ti-50.8at.%Ni thin wires produced by different methods”. Wang X, Amin-Ahmadi B, Schryvers D, Verlinden B, Van Humbeeck J, Materials science forum 738/739, 306 (2013). http://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.738-739.306
Abstract: A Ti-50.8at.%Ni wire produced using a co-drawing method and a commercial Ti-50.8at.%Ni wire were annealed at different temperatures between 450°C and 700°C. Grains with diameter less than 100nm were revealed by transmission electron microscopy for both wires before annealing treatment. However, the microstructural heterogeneity of the co-drawn wire is more obvious than that of the commercial wire. Multi-stage martensitic transformation was observed in the co-drawn wire, compared with the one-stage A↔M transformation in the commercial wire after annealing at 600°C for 30min. The differences of total elongation, plateau strain and pseudoelastic recoverable strain between the commercial wire and the co-drawn wire were also observed. The differences of the transformation behavior and mechanical properties between the commercial wire and the co-drawn wire are attributed to the microstructural difference between these two wires.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.738-739.306
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“Effect of deposition rate on the microstructure of electron beam evaporated nanocrystalline palladium thin films”. Amin-Ahmadi B, Idrissi H, Galceran M, Colla MS, Raskin JP, Pardoen T, Godet S, Schryvers D, Thin solid films : an international journal on the science and technology of thin and thick films 539, 145 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2013.05.083
Abstract: The influence of the deposition rate on the formation of growth twins in nanocrystalline Pd films deposited by electron beam evaporation is investigated using transmission electron microscopy. Statistical measurements prove that twin boundary (TB) density and volume fraction of grains containing twins increase with increasing deposition rate. A clear increase of the dislocation density was observed for the highest deposition rate of 5 Å/s, caused by the increase of the internal stress building up during deposition. Based on crystallographic orientation indexation using transmission electron microscopy, it can be concluded that a {111} crystallographic texture increases with increasing deposition rate even though the {101} crystallographic texture remains dominant. Most of the TBs are fully coherent without any residual dislocations. However, for the highest deposition rate (5 Å/s), the coherency of the TBs decreases significantly as a result of the interaction of lattice dislocations emitted during deposition with the growth TBs. The analysis of the grain boundary character of different Pd films shows that an increasing fraction of high angle grain boundaries with misorientation angles around 5565° leads to a higher potential for twin formation.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.879
Times cited: 13
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2013.05.083
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“Effect of high temperature deposition on CoSi2 phase formation”. Comrie CM, Ahmed A, Smeets D, Demeulemeester J, Turner S, Van Tendeloo G, Detavernier C, Vantomme A, Journal of applied physics 113, 234902 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4811352
Abstract: This paper discusses the nucleation behaviour of the CoSi to CoSi2 transformation from cobalt silicide thin films grown by deposition at elevated substrate temperatures ranging from 375 °C to 600 °C. A combination of channelling, real-time Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, real-time x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the effect of the deposition temperature on the subsequent formation temperature of CoSi2, its growth behaviour, and the epitaxial quality of the CoSi2 thus formed. The temperature at which deposition took place was observed to exert a significant and systematic influence on both the formation temperature of CoSi2 and its growth mechanism. CoSi films grown at the lowest temperatures were found to increase the CoSi2 nucleation temperature above that of CoSi2 grown by conventional solid phase reaction, whereas the higher deposition temperatures reduced the nucleation temperature significantly. In addition, a systematic change in growth mechanism of the subsequent CoSi2 growth occurs as a function of deposition temperature. First, the CoSi2 growth rate from films grown at the lower reactive deposition temperatures is substantially lower than that grown at higher reactive deposition temperatures, even though the onset of growth occurs at a higher temperature, Second, for deposition temperatures below 450 °C, the growth appears columnar, indicating nucleation controlled growth. Elevated deposition temperatures, on the other hand, render the CoSi2 formation process layer-by-layer which indicates enhanced nucleation of the CoSi2 and diffusion controlled growth. Our results further indicate that this observed trend is most likely related to stress and changes in microstructure introduced during reactive deposition of the CoSi film. The deposition temperature therefore provides a handle to tune the CoSi2 growth mechanism.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.068
Times cited: 2
DOI: 10.1063/1.4811352
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“Effect of lone-electron-pair cations on the orientation of crystallographic shear planes in anion-deficient perovskites”. Batuk D, Batuk M, Abakumov AM, Tsirlin AA, McCammon CM, Dubrovinsky L, Hadermann J, Inorganic chemistry 52, 10009 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/ic4012845
Abstract: Factors affecting the structure and orientation of the crystallographic shear (CS) planes in anion-deficient perovskites are investigated using the (Pb1−zSrz)1−xFe1+xO3−y perovskites as a model system. The orientation of the CS planes in the system varies unevenly with z. A comparison of the structures with different CS planes revels that the orientation of the CS planes is governed mainly by the stereochemical activity of the lone-electron-pair cations inside the perovskite blocks.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.857
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/ic4012845
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“Electron diffraction measurement of the binding rigidity of free-standing graphene”. Kirilenko DA, Technical physics letters 39, 325 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1134/S1063785013040081
Abstract: A method for measuring the binding rigidity of free-standing graphene from the dependence of the short-wavelength spectral range of transverse structural fluctuations of a crystal is proposed. The fluctuation spectrum is measured according to the variation in electron-diffraction patterns derived in a transmission electron microscope while tilting the sample.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 0.771
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1134/S1063785013040081
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Lu Y (2013) Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) characterization of diamond and related materials. Antwerpen
Keywords: Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
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“EM characterization of precipitates in as-cast and annealed Ni45.5Ti45.5Nb9 shape memory alloys”. Shi H, Frenzel J, Schryvers D, Materials science forum 738/739, 113 (2013). http://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.738-739.113
Abstract: Nb-rich precipitates in the matrix of as-cast and annealed Ni45.5Ti45.5Nb9 alloys are investigated by scanning and scanning transmission electron microscopy, including slice-and-view and geometric phase analysis (GPA). The Nb-rich bcc nano-precipitates in the as-cast alloy have a 10% lattice parameter difference with the B2 matrix and reveal compensating interface dislocations. The 3D reconstruction of the configuration of small Nb-rich precipitates in the annealed alloy reveals a wall-like distribution of precipitates, which may increase the thermal hysteresis of the material.
Keywords: P1 Proceeding; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.738-739.113
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“Erratum : First-principles study of possible shallow donors in ZnAl2O4 spinel [Phys. Rev. B 87, 174101 (2013)]”. Dixit H, Tandon N, Cottenier S, Saniz R, Lamoen D, Partoens B, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 88, 059905 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.059905
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.88.059905
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“Estimation of unknown structure parameters from high-resolution (S)TEM images : what are the limits?”.den Dekker AJ, Gonnissen J, de Backer A, Sijbers J, Van Aert S, Ultramicroscopy 134, 34 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.05.017
Abstract: Statistical parameter estimation theory is proposed as a quantitative method to measure unknown structure parameters from electron microscopy images. Images are then purely considered as data planes from which structure parameters have to be determined as accurately and precisely as possible using a parametric statistical model of the observations. For this purpose, an efficient algorithm is proposed for the estimation of atomic column positions and intensities from high angle annular dark field (HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images. Furthermore, the so-called CramérRao lower bound (CRLB) is reviewed to determine the limits to the precision with which continuous parameters such as atomic column positions and intensities can be estimated. Since this lower bound can only be derived for continuous parameters, alternative measures using the principles of detection theory are introduced for problems concerning the estimation of discrete parameters such as atomic numbers. An experimental case study is presented to show the practical use of these measures for the optimization of the experiment design if the purpose is to decide between the presence of specific atom types using STEM images.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Vision lab
Impact Factor: 2.843
Times cited: 31
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2013.05.017
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“Evidence for metalsupport interactions in Au modified TiOx/SBA-15 materials prepared by photodeposition”. Mei B, Wiktor C, Turner S, Pougin A, Van Tendeloo G, Fischer RA, Muhler M, Strunk J, ACS catalysis 3, 3041 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/cs400964k
Abstract: Gold nanoparticles have been efficiently photodeposited onto titanate-loaded SBA-15 (Ti(x)/SBA-15) with different titania coordination. Transmission electron microscopy shows that relatively large Au nanoparticles are photodeposited on the outer surface of the Ti(x)/SBA-15 materials and that TiOx tends to form agglomerates in close proximity to the Au nanoparticles, often forming coreshell Au/TiOx structures. This behavior resembles typical processes observed due to strong-metal support interactions. In the presence of gold, the formation of hydrogen on Ti(x)/SBA-15 during the photodeposition process and the performance in the hydroxylation of terephthalic acid is greatly enhanced. The activity of the Au/Ti(x)/SBA-15 materials is found to depend on the TiOx loading, increasing with a larger amount of initially isolated TiO4 tetrahedra. Samples with initially clustered TiOx species show lower photocatalytic activities. When isolated zinc oxide (ZnOx) species are present on Ti(x)/SBA-15, gold nanoparticles are smaller and well dispersed within the pores. Agglomeration of TiOx species and the formation of Au/TiOx structures is negligible. The dispersion of gold and the formation of Au/TiOx in the SBA-15 matrix seem to depend on the mobility of the TiOx species. The mobility is determined by the initial degree of agglomeration of TiOx. Effective hydrogen evolution requires Au/TiOx coreshell composites as in Au/Ti(x)/SBA-15, whereas hydroxylation of terephthalic acid can also be performed with Au/ZnOx/TiOx/SBA-15 materials. However, isolated TiOx species have to be grafted onto the support prior to the zinc oxide species, providing strong evidence for the necessity of TiOSi bridges for high photocatalytic activity in terephthalic acid hydroxylation.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 10.614
Times cited: 22
DOI: 10.1021/cs400964k
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“Evolution of the phase stability of NiAl under low energy ball milling”. Zelaya E, Esquivel MR, Schryvers D, Advanced powder technology 24, 1063 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2013.03.008
Abstract: Low energy mechanical alloying of Ni35 at.%Al and Ni40 at.%Al material was performed and the resulting structures were investigated by XRD and TEM. The final intermetallics observed consist of two phases, NiAl(B2) and Ni3Al while 7R and 3R martensite was observed in post-annealed samples. Different integrated milling times were associated to the intermetallic consolidation and initial blend dissociation.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.659
Times cited: 10
DOI: 10.1016/j.apt.2013.03.008
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“Experimental evidence for oxygen sublattice control in polar infinite layer SrCuO2”. Samal D, Tan H, Molegraaf H, Kuiper B, Siemons W, Bals S, Verbeeck J, Van Tendeloo G, Takamura Y, Arenholz E, Jenkins CA, Rijnders G, Koster G, Physical review letters 111, 096102 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.096102
Abstract: A recent theoretical study [ Phys. Rev. B 85 121411(R) (2012)] predicted a thickness limit below which ideal polar cuprates turn nonpolar driven by the associated electrostatic instability. Here we demonstrate this possibility by inducing a structural transformation from the bulk planar to chainlike structure upon reducing the SrCuO2 repeat thickness in SrCuO2/SrTiO3 superlattices with unit-cell precision. Our results, based on structural investigation by x-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, demonstrate that the oxygen sublattice can essentially be built by design. In addition, the electronic structure of the chainlike structure, as studied by x-ray absorption spectroscopy, shows the signature for preferential hole occupation in the Cu 3d3z2-r2 orbital, which is different from the planar case.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 29
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.096102
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“Exploiting lens aberrations to create electron-vortex beams”. Clark L, Béché, A, Guzzinati G, Lubk A, Mazilu M, Van Boxem R, Verbeeck J, Physical review letters 111, 064801 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.064801
Abstract: A model for a new electron-vortex beam production method is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The technique calls on the controlled manipulation of the degrees of freedom of the lens aberrations to achieve a helical phase front. These degrees of freedom are accessible by using the corrector lenses of a transmission electron microscope. The vortex beam is produced through a particular alignment of these lenses into a specifically designed astigmatic state and applying an annular aperture in the condenser plane. Experimental results are found to be in good agreement with simulations.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 66
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.064801
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“First-principles study of possible shallow donors in ZnAl2O4 spinel”. Dixit H, Tandon N, Cottenier S, Saniz R, Lamoen D, Partoens B, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 87, 174101 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.174101
Abstract: ZnAl2O4 (gahnite) is a ceramic which is considered a possible transparent conducting oxide (TCO) due to its wide band gap and transparency for UV. Defects play an important role in controlling the conductivity of a TCO material along with the dopant, which is the main source of conductivity in an otherwise insulating oxide. A comprehensive first-principles density functional theory study for point defects in ZnAl2O4 spinel is presented using the Heyd, Scuseria, and Ernzerhof hybrid functional (HSE06) to overcome the band gap problem. We have investigated the formation energies of intrinsic defects which include the Zn, Al, and O vacancy and the antisite defects: Zn at the Al site (ZnAl) and Al at the Zn site (AlZn). The antisite defect AlZn has the lowest formation energy and acts as a shallow donor, indicating possible n-type conductivity in ZnAl2O4 spinel by Al doping.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 50
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.87.174101
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“Fluorine doped Fe2O3 nanostructures by a one-pot plasma-assisted strategy”. Carraro G, Gasparotto A, Maccato C, Bontempi E, Lebedev OI, Turner S, Sada C, Depero LE, Van Tendeloo G, Barreca D, RSC advances 3, 23762 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1039/c3ra43775b
Abstract: The present work reports on the synthesis of fluorine doped Fe2O3 nanomaterials by a single-step plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) strategy. In particular, Fe(hfa)2TMEDA (hfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate; TMEDA = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) was used as molecular source for both Fe and F in Ar/O2 plasmas. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of the synthesized nanosystems were thoroughly analyzed by two-dimensional X-ray diffraction (XRD2), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A suitable choice of processing parameters enabled the selective formation of α-Fe2O3 nanomaterials, characterized by an homogeneous F doping, even at 100 °C. Interestingly, a simultaneous control of the system nanoscale organization and fluorine content could be achieved by varying the sole growth temperature. The tailored properties of the resulting materials can be favourably exploited for several technological applications, ranging from photocatalysis, to photoelectrochemical cells and gas sensing.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.108
Times cited: 23
DOI: 10.1039/c3ra43775b
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“Fluorine intercalation in the n=1 and n=2 layered manganites Sr2MnO3.5+x and Sr3Mn2O6”. Sullivan E, Gillie LJ, Hadermann J, Greaves C, Materials research bulletin 48, 1598 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2012.12.073
Abstract: Fluorine insertion into the oxygen defect superstructure manganite Sr2MnO3.5+x has been shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to result in two levels of fluorination. In the higher fluorine content sections, the fluorine anions displace oxygen anions from their apical positions into the equatorial vacancies, thus destroying the superstructure and reverting to a K2NiF4-type structure (a = 3.8210(1) angstrom and c = 12.686(1) angstrom). Conversely, lower fluorine content sections retain the Sr2MnO3.5+x defect superstructure, crystallising in the P2(1)/c space group. Fluorine intercalation into the reduced double-layer manganite Sr3Mn2O6 occurs in a step-wise fashion according to the general formula Sr3Mn2O6Fy with y = 1, 2, and 3. It is proposed that the y = 1 phase (a = 3.815(1)angstrom, c = 20.29(2) angstrom) is produced by the filling of all the equatorial oxygen vacancies by fluorine atoms whilst the y = 2 phase (a = 3.8222(2) angstrom, c = 21.2435(3)angstrom) has a random distribution of fluorine anions throughout both interstitial rocksalt and equatorial sites. Neutron powder diffraction data suggest that the fully fluorinated y = 3 phase (a = 3.8157(6) angstrom, c = 23.666(4) angstrom) corresponds to the complete occupation of all the equatorial oxygen vacancies and the interstitial sites by intercalated fluorine. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.446
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2012.12.073
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“Frustrated octahedral tilting distortion in the incommensurately modulated Li3xNd2/3-xTiO3 perovskites”. Abakumov AM, Erni R, Tsirlin AA, Rossell MD, Batuk D, Nénert G, Van Tendeloo G, Chemistry of materials 25, 2670 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/cm4012052
Abstract: Perovskite-structured titanates with layered A-site ordering form remarkably complex superstructures. Using transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, and ab initio structure relaxation, we present the structural solution of the incommensurately modulated Li3xNd2/3xTiO3 perovskites (x = 0.05, superspace group Pmmm(α1,1/2,0)000(1/2,β2 0)000, a = 3.831048(5) Å, b = 3.827977(4) Å, c = 7.724356(8) Å, q1 = 0.45131(8)a* + 1/2b*, q2 = 1/2a* + 0.41923(4)b*). In contrast to earlier conjectures on the nanoscale compositional phase separation in these materials, all peculiarities of the superstructure can be understood in terms of displacive modulations related to an intricate octahedral tilting pattern. It involves fragmenting the pattern of the out-of-phase tilted TiO6 octahedra around the a- and b-axes into antiphase domains, superimposed on the pattern of domains with either pronounced or suppressed in-phase tilt component around the c-axis. The octahedral tilting competes with the second order JahnTeller distortion of the TiO6 octahedra. This competition is considered as the primary driving force for the modulated structure. The A cations are suspected to play a role in this modulation affecting it mainly through the tolerance factor and the size variance. The reported crystal structure calls for a revision of the structure models proposed for the family of layered A-site ordered perovskites exhibiting a similar type of modulated structure.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.466
Times cited: 23
DOI: 10.1021/cm4012052
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“Frustrated pentagonal Cairo lattice in the non-collinear antiferromagnet Bi4Fe5O13F”. Abakumov AM, Batuk D, Tsirlin AA, Prescher C, Dubrovinsky L, Sheptyakov DV, Schnelle W, Hadermann J, Van Tendeloo G, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 87, 024423 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.87.024423
Abstract: We report on the crystal structure and magnetism of the iron-based oxyfluoride Bi4Fe5O13F, a material prototype of the Cairo pentagonal spin lattice. The crystal structure of Bi4Fe5O13F is determined by a combination of neutron diffraction, synchrotron x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. It comprises layers of FeO6 octahedra and FeO4 tetrahedra forming deformed pentagonal units. The topology of these layers resembles a pentagonal least-perimeter tiling, which is known as the Cairo lattice. This topology gives rise to frustrated exchange couplings and underlies a sequence of magnetic transitions at T-1 = 62 K, T-2 = 71 K, and T-N = 178 K, as determined by thermodynamic measurements and neutron diffraction. Below T-1, Bi4Fe5O13F forms a fully ordered non-collinear antiferromagnetic structure, whereas the magnetic state between T-1 and T-N may be partially disordered according to the sizable increase in the magnetic entropy at T-1 and T-2. Bi4Fe5O13F reveals unanticipated magnetic transitions on the pentagonal Cairo spin lattice and calls for a further work on finite-temperature properties of this strongly frustrated spin model. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.87.024423
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 17
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.87.024423
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“Functional twin boundaries”. Van Aert S, Turner S, Delville R, Schryvers D, Van Tendeloo G, Ding X, Salje EKH, Phase transitions 86, 1052 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1080/01411594.2012.748909
Abstract: Functional interfaces are at the core of research in the emerging field of domain boundary engineering where polar, conducting, chiral, and other interfaces and twin boundaries have been discovered. Ferroelectricity was found in twin walls of paraelectric CaTiO3. We show that the effect of functional interfaces can be optimized if the number of twin boundaries is increased in densely twinned materials. Such materials can be produced by shear in the ferroelastic phase rather than by rapid quench from the paraelastic phase.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.06
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1080/01411594.2012.748909
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“A generalized electrochemical aggregative growth mechanism”. Ustarroz J, Hammons JA, Altantzis T, Hubin A, Bals S, Terryn H, Journal of the American Chemical Society 135, 11550 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/ja402598k
Abstract: The early stages of nanocrystal nucleation and growth are still an active field of research and remain unrevealed. In this work, by the combination of aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electrochemical characterization of the electrodeposition of different metals, we provide a complete reformulation of the VolmerWeber 3D island growth mechanism, which has always been accepted to explain the early stages of metal electrodeposition and thin-film growth on low-energy substrates. We have developed a Generalized Electrochemical Aggregative Growth Mechanism which mimics the atomistic processes during the early stages of thin-film growth, by incorporating nanoclusters as building blocks. We discuss the influence of new processes such as nanocluster self-limiting growth, surface diffusion, aggregation, and coalescence on the growth mechanism and morphology of the resulting nanostructures. Self-limiting growth mechanisms hinder nanocluster growth and favor coalescence driven growth. The size of the primary nanoclusters is independent of the applied potential and deposition time. The balance between nucleation, nanocluster surface diffusion, and coalescence depends on the material and the overpotential, and influences strongly the morphology of the deposits. A small extent of coalescence leads to ultraporous dendritic structures, large surface coverage, and small particle size. Contrarily, full recrystallization leads to larger hemispherical monocrystalline islands and smaller particle density. The mechanism we propose represents a scientific breakthrough from the fundamental point of view and indicates that achieving the right balance between nucleation, self-limiting growth, cluster surface diffusion, and coalescence is essential and opens new, exciting possibilities to build up enhanced supported nanostructures using nanoclusters as building blocks.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 13.858
Times cited: 124
DOI: 10.1021/ja402598k
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“Graphane- and fluorographene-based quantum dots”. Amini MN, Leenaerts O, Partoens B, Lamoen D, The journal of physical chemistry: C : nanomaterials and interfaces 117, 16242 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/jp405079r
Abstract: With the help of first-principles calculations, we investigate graphane/fluorographene heterostructures with special attention for graphane and fluorographene-based quantum dots. Graphane and fluorographene have large electronic band gaps, and we show that their band structures exhibit a strong type-II alignment. In this way, it is possible to obtain confined electron states in fluorographene nanostructures by embedding them in a graphane crystal. Bound hole states can be created in graphane domains embedded in a fluorographene environment. For circular graphane/fluorographene quantum dots, localized states can be observed in the band gap if the size of the radii is larger than approximately 4 to 5 Å.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 4.536
Times cited: 14
DOI: 10.1021/jp405079r
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“Heterogeneity of silica and glycan-epitope distribution in epidermal idioblast cell walls in Adiantum raddianum laminae”. Van Hoorebeke L, Leroux O, Leroux F, Mastroberti AA, Santos-Silva F, Van Loo D, Bagniewska-Zadworna A, Bals S, Popper ZA, de Araujo Mariath JE, Planta 237, 1453 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-013-1856-6
Abstract: Laminae of Adiantum raddianum Presl., a fern belonging to the family Pteridaceae, are characterised by the presence of epidermal fibre-like cells under the vascular bundles. These cells were thought to contain silica bodies, but their thickened walls leave no space for intracellular silica suggesting it may actually be deposited within their walls. Using advanced electron microscopy in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis we showed the presence of silica in the cell walls of the fibre-like idioblasts. However, it was specifically localised to the outer layers of the periclinal wall facing the leaf surface, with the thick secondary wall being devoid of silica. Immunocytochemical experiments were performed to ascertain the respective localisation of silica deposition and glycan polymers. Epitopes characteristic for pectic homogalacturonan and the hemicelluloses xyloglucan and mannan were detected in most epidermal walls, including the silica-rich cell wall layers. The monoclonal antibody, LM6, raised against pectic arabinan, labelled the silica-rich primary wall of the epidermal fibre-like cells and the guard cell walls, which were also shown to contain silica. We hypothesise that the silicified outer wall layers of the epidermal fibre-like cells support the lamina during cell expansion prior to secondary wall formation. This implies that silicification does not impede cell elongation. Although our results suggest that pectic arabinan may be implicated in silica deposition, further detailed analyses are needed to confirm this. The combinatorial approach presented here, which allows correlative screening and in situ localisation of silicon and cell wall polysaccharide distribution, shows great potential for future studies.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.361
Times cited: 16
DOI: 10.1007/s00425-013-1856-6
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