Kinetic-Energy Discrimination for Atom Probe Tomography: Concepts and Potential Detectors

AbstractThe benefits of using kinetic-energy information to aid ion discrimination in atom probe tomography (APT) are explored. Ion peak interferences in time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectra are categorized by difficulty of discrimination using TOF and kinetic-energy information. Several of these categories, which are intractable interferences when only TOF information is available, may be discriminated when kinetic-energy information also is available. Furthermore, many opportunities for removing noise from composition determinations and three-dimensional images are enabled. Modest kinetic-energy resolving powers (KRPs) of 10 or so should be sufficient to have a major impact on APT. With KRP of about 100, the energy deficits in voltage pulsing may be resolved to enable peak discrimination in straight-flight-path instruments. Real examples and simulated mass spectra are used to illustrate the benefits of kinetic-energy discrimination. Many of the conclusions are applicable generally in TOF spectroscopy. Current detectors do not provide the kinetic energy of incoming ions, but there are realistic prospects for building such detectors and these are discussed. A program to develop these detectors should be pursued.

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Understanding the Effects of Graphene Coating on the Electrostatic Field at the Tip of an Atom Probe Tomography Specimen

Microscopy and Microanalysis ◽

10.1017/s1431927621012356 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Florant Exertier ◽

Jiangting Wang ◽

Jing Fu ◽

Ross K.W. Marceau

Keyword(s):

Electrostatic Field ◽

Atom Probe Tomography ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Graphene Coating

Abstract

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Tetragonal fcc-Fe induced by κ -carbide precipitates: Atomic scale insights from correlative electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and density functional theory

Physical Review Materials ◽

10.1103/physrevmaterials.2.023804 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Christian H. Liebscher ◽

Mengji Yao ◽

Poulumi Dey ◽

Marta Lipińska-Chwalek ◽

Benjamin Berkels ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Density Functional Theory ◽

Atom Probe Tomography ◽

Density Functional ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Atomic Scale ◽

Functional Theory

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Correlating nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry and atom probe tomography analysis of uranium enrichment in metallic nuclear fuel

The Analyst ◽

10.1039/d0an01831g ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 146 (1) ◽

pp. 69-74

Author(s):

Elizabeth Kautz ◽

John Cliff ◽

Timothy Lach ◽

Dallas Reilly ◽

Arun Devaraj

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Nuclear Fuel ◽

Atom Probe Tomography ◽

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Uranium Enrichment ◽

Length Scales ◽

Atom Probe Tomography Analysis ◽

Secondary Ion ◽

Tomography Analysis

235U enrichment in a metallic nuclear fuel was measured via NanoSIMS and APT, allowing for a direct comparison of enrichment across length scales and resolutions.

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Inside Front Cover: Atom Probe Tomography of Encapsulated Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles (Small Methods 2/2021)

Small Methods ◽

10.1002/smtd.202170004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 2170004

Author(s):

Daniel S. Mosiman ◽

Yi‐Sheng Chen ◽

Limei Yang ◽

Brian Hawkett ◽

Simon P. Ringer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atom Probe Tomography ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles ◽

Front Cover

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The distribution of O and N in the surface region of laser-patterned titanium revealed by atom probe tomography

Applied Surface Science ◽

10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.150193 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 150193

Author(s):

D. Kuczyńska-Zemła ◽

G. Sundell ◽

M. Zemła ◽

M. Andersson ◽

H. Garbacz

Keyword(s):

Atom Probe Tomography ◽

Surface Region ◽

Atom Probe

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3D sub-nanometer analysis of glucose in an aqueous solution by cryo-atom probe tomography

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90862-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

T. M. Schwarz ◽

C. A. Dietrich ◽

J. Ott ◽

E. M. Weikum ◽

R. Lawitzki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atom Probe Tomography ◽

Density Functional ◽

Chemical Characterization ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Atom Probe ◽

Characterization Methods ◽

Signal Deconvolution ◽

The Stability ◽

Frozen Solutions ◽

3D Volume

AbstractAtom Probe Tomography (APT) is currently a well-established technique to analyse the composition of solid materials including metals, semiconductors and ceramics with up to near-atomic resolution. Using an aqueous glucose solution, we now extended the technique to frozen solutions. While the mass signals of the common glucose fragments CxHy and CxOyHz overlap with (H2O)nH from water, we achieved stoichiometrically correct values via signal deconvolution. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the stability of the detected pyranose fragments. This paper demonstrates APT’s capabilities to achieve sub-nanometre resolution in tracing whole glucose molecules in a frozen solution by using cryogenic workflows. We use a solution of defined concentration to investigate the chemical resolution capabilities as a step toward the measurement of biological molecules. Due to the evaporation of nearly intact glucose molecules, their position within the measured 3D volume of the solution can be determined with sub-nanometre resolution. Our analyses take analytical techniques to a new level, since chemical characterization methods for cryogenically-frozen solutions or biological materials are limited.

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