In-situ electron microscopy has gained considerable attention in recent years. It provides a “live” view of a material or device under study at various length scales. For example, by heating or cooling a sample one can study structural change at the atomic scale to understand the driving forces and mechanisms of phase transitions. By applying electric and magnetic fields on a ferroelectric or magnetic architecture in operation, one can directly observe how electric and magnetic domains switch, how anions and cations shift their positions, and how spins change their configuration across a domain wall, aiding the development of better electromagnetic devices. In the study of photovoltaic devices and junctions, a major challenge is to directly correlate light-induced electric currents with local structural inhomogeneities and dynamics. Such a capability would allow us to evaluate the performance of individual p-n junctions and to improve optoelectronic efficiency.
In situ atomic-scale observation of oxidation and decomposition processes in nanocrystalline alloys
