Quantification of grain boundary parameters using high-resolution Electron Microscopy

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 912-913
Author(s):  
M. I. Buckett ◽  
K. L. Merkle
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Volume Expansion ◽  
Boundary Energy ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Lattice Fringe ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Point To Point

With the advances in instrumentation and the capability of point-to-point resolution better than 0.2 nm, high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) is becoming more widely used for the quantitative study of both surfaces and internal interfaces. The elegance of the technique lies in its ability to deduce atomic-scale information on a localized scale. Without the proper analysis, however, HREM images can easily be misinterpreted. We investigate the considerations necessary for quantification of HREM images, using the measurement of the grain boundary volume expansion via the lattice fringe displacement technique as an example. The volume expansion, a parameter directly related to the grain boundary energy, is measured (in length units on the order of tenths of Å) as a rigid body translation normal to the boundary. It can be determined experimentally using statistical techniques which locate and fit the peak and valley positions in an experimental HREM image such that a direct measurement of the lattice fringe displacements is made.

High-Resolution Electron Microscopy of Grain Boundary Migration

2000 ◽  
Vol 652 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Merkle ◽  
L. J. Thompson ◽  
Fritz Phillipp
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Boundary Migration ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Cooperative Effects ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Scale Motion

ABSTRACTAtomic-scale grain boundary (GB) migration has been directly observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM). Atomic-scale motion of high-angle tilt GBs as well as twist and general GBs at gold island grains with a number of planar facets has been studied at ambient and elevated temperatures. GB migration mechanisms depend on GB structure and geometry. Strong indications for cooperative effects has been found. In this case, as has been proposed before, atoms may undergo small shifts in their lattice positions to be incorporated into the growing grain in a collective mode. At high temperature and in the absence of a strong driving force such small lattice regions are observed to fluctuate back and forth between the two grains. Faceted GBs typically move in spurts. This appears to be inherent to GB migration, whenever the motion is controlled by different structural entities. For some GB geometries the motion was found to proceed by the lateral propagation of atomic-scale steps.

scholarly journals Atomic Scale Structure of Twin Boundary In Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductors

1989 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yimei Zhu ◽  
M. Suenaga ◽  
Youwen Xu ◽  
M. Kawasaki
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Twin Boundary ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Boundary Energy ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Lattice Plane ◽  
Twin Density ◽  
Resolution Electron

ABSTRACTHigh resolution electron microscopy of the twin boundary layers in YBa2(Cu1-xMx)3O7–8 for x=0 and 0.02 and M=Zn, Fe and Al showed that the boundary widths are ∼1 nm for the pure and the Zn substituted YBa2Cu3O7, 2.5∼3 nm for the Fe and Al substituted oxide. It was found that the lattice plane is shifted across the twin boundary by (1/3 ∼ 1/2)·2d(110) along the boundary. The broadening of the layer for the cases of Fe and Al is also thought to be associated with a reduction of the twin boundary energy, which also leads to an increased twin density.

Atomic structure imaging of the Si/SiO2 interface with high-resolution electron microscopy

1986 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 390-391
Author(s):  
J.L. Batstone ◽  
J.M. Gibson ◽  
Alice.E. White ◽  
K.T. Short
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Atomic Structure ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Medium Voltage ◽  
Voltage Electron ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Structural Image ◽  
Electron Microscopes ◽  
Point To Point

High resolution electron microscopy (HREM) is a powerful tool for the determination of interface atomic structure. With the previous generation of HREM's of point-to-point resolution (rpp) >2.5Å, imaging of semiconductors in only <110> directions was possible. Useful imaging of other important zone axes became available with the advent of high voltage, high resolution microscopes with rpp <1.8Å, leading to a study of the NiSi2 interface. More recently, it was shown that images in <100>, <111> and <112> directions are easily obtainable from Si in the new medium voltage electron microscopes. We report here the examination of the important Si/Si02 interface with the use of a JEOL 4000EX HREM with rpp <1.8Å, in a <100> orientation. This represents a true structural image of this interface.

Structural Transformation of a Germanium Σ=13 (510) [001] Tilt Grain Boundary under the Electron Beam

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Rouvière ◽  
Alain Bourret
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Structural Transformation ◽  
Mirror Symmetry ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Structural Transformations ◽  
Covalent Bonds ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Tilt Grain Boundary

The possible structural transformations during the sample preparations and the sample observations are important issues in electron microscopy. Several publications of High Resolution Electron Microscopy (HREM) have reported that structural transformations and evaporation of the thin parts of a specimen could happen in the microscope. Diffusion and preferential etchings could also occur during the sample preparation.Here we report a structural transformation of a germanium Σ=13 (510) [001] tilt grain boundary that occurred in a medium-voltage electron microscopy (JEOL 400KV).Among the different (001) tilt grain boundaries whose atomic structures were entirely determined by High Resolution Electron Microscopy (Σ = 5(310), Σ = 13 (320), Σ = 13 (510), Σ = 65 (1130), Σ = 25 (710) and Σ = 41 (910), the Σ = 13 (510) interface is the most interesting. It exhibits two kinds of structures. One of them, the M-structure, has tetracoordinated covalent bonds and is periodic (fig. 1). The other, the U-structure, is also tetracoordinated but is not strictly periodic (fig. 2). It is composed of a periodically repeated constant part that separates variable cores where some atoms can have several stable positions. The M-structure has a mirror glide symmetry. At Scherzer defocus, its HREM images have characteristic groups of three big white dots that are distributed on alternatively facing right and left arcs (fig. 1). The (001) projection of the U-structure has an apparent mirror symmetry, the portions of good coincidence zones (“perfect crystal structure”) regularly separate the variable cores regions (fig. 2).

X-Ray-Optical Multilayer Structures Studied Using High Resolution Electron Microscopy.

1986 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Beth Stearns ◽  
Amanda K. Petford-Long ◽  
C.-H. Chang ◽  
D. G. Stearns ◽  
N. M. Ceglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Degree Of Crystallinity ◽  
Multilayer Systems ◽  
Layer Width ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Resolution Electron

ABSTRACTThe technique of high resolution electron microscopy has been used to examine the structure of several multilayer systems (MLS) on an atomic scale. Mo/Si multilayers, in use in a number of x-ray optical element applications, and Mo/Si multilayers, of interest because of their magnetic properties, have been imaged in cross-section. Layer thicknesses, flatness and smoothness have been analysed: the layer width can vary by up to 0.6nm from the average value, and the layer flatness depends on the quality of the substrate surface for amorphous MLS, and on the details of the crystalline growth for the crystalline materials. The degree of crystallinity and the crystal orientation within the layers have also been investigated. In both cases, the high-Z layers are predominantly crystalline and the Si layers appear amorphous. Amorphous interfacial regions are visible between the Mo and Si layers, and crystalline cobalt suicide interfacial regions between the Co and Si layers. Using the structural measurements obtained from the HREM results, theoretical x-ray reflectivity behaviour has been calculated. It fits the experimental data very well.

High-resolution Electron Microscopy Observation of Grain-boundary Films in Superplastically Deformed Silicon Nitride

2000 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 1551-1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo-Dong Zhan ◽  
Mamoru Mitomo ◽  
Yuichi Ikuhara ◽  
Taketo Sakuma
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Silicon Nitride ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Applied Stress ◽  
Thickness Distribution ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Stress Axis ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Boundary Films

The thickness distribution of grain-boundary films during the superplastic deformation of fine-grained β–silicon nitride was investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy. In particular, grain-boundary thickness was considered with respect to the stress axis in two orientations; namely, parallel and perpendicular to the direction of applied stress. The results showed that the thickness distribution in boundaries perpendicular to the direction of applied stress was unimodal, whereas in parallel boundaries it was bimodal. Moreover, it was found that the majority of film-free boundaries were parallel to the direction of applied stress in the extremely deformed sample. The variation in spacing reflects distribution of stresses within the material due to irregular shape of the grains and the existence of percolating load-bearing paths through the microstructure.

Atomic Scale Study of Cosi/Si (111) and CoSi2/Si (111) Interfaces

1989 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Catana ◽  
M. Heintze ◽  
P.E. Schmid ◽  
P. Stadelmann
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Beam ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Orientation Relationship ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Type B ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Resolution Electron

ABSTRACTHigh Resolution Electron Microscopy (HREM) was used to study microstructural changes related to the CoSi/Si-CoSi/CoSi2/Si-CoSi2/Si transformations. CoSi is found to grow epitaxially on Si with [111]Si // [111]CoSi and < 110 >Si // < 112 >CoSi. Two CoSi non-equivalent orientations (rotated by 180° around the substrate normal) can occur in this plane. They can be clearly distinguished by HRTEM on cross-sections ( electron beam along [110]Si). At about 500°C CoSi transforms to CoSi2. Experimental results show that the type B orientation relationship satisfying [110]Si // [112]CoSi is preserved after the initial stage of CoSi2 formation. At this stage an epitaxial CoSi/CoSi2/Si(111) system is obtained. The atomic scale investigation of the CoSi2/Si interface shows that a 7-fold coordination of the cobalt atoms is observed in both type A and type B epitaxies.

Interfacial Atomic Structures During Cobalt Silicidation

1990 ◽  
Vol 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Catana ◽  
P.E. Schmid
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Type B ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Atomic Structures ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Predominant Orientation ◽  
Lower Temperature

ABSTRACTHigh Resolution Electron Microscopy (HREM) and image calculations are combined to study microstructural changes related to the CoSi/Si-CoSi/CoSi2/Si-CoSi2/Si transformations. The samples are prepared by UHV e-beam evaporation of Co layers (2 nm) followed by annealing at 300°C or 400°C. Cross-sectional observations at an atomic scale show that the silicidation of Co at the lower temperature yields epitaxial CoSi/Si domains such that [111]Si // [111]CoSi and <110>Si // <112>CoSi. At about 400°C CoSi2 nucleates at the CoSi/Si interface. During the early stages of this chemical reaction, an epitaxial CoSi/CoSi2/Si system is observed. The predominant orientation is such that (021) CoSi planes are parallel to (220) CoSi2 planes, the CoSi2/Si interface being of type B. The growth of CoSi2 is shown to proceed at the expense of both CoSi and Si.

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