Prospects for Nanobiology with Atom-Probe Tomography

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 744-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Kelly ◽  
Osamu Nishikawa ◽  
J.A. Panitz ◽  
Ty J. Prosa
Keyword(s):  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Data ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Flight Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Historical Developments

AbstractThe merits of atom-probe tomography (APT) of inorganic materials are well established, as described in this volume. However, one of the long-held aspirations of atom-probe scientists, structural and chemical characterization of organic and biological materials at near-atomic resolution, has yet to be fully realized. A few proof-of-concept type investigations have shown that APT of organic materials is feasible, but a number of challenges still exist with regard to specimen preparation and conversion of raw time-of-flight mass spectrometry data into a three-dimensional map of ions containing structural and chemical information at an acceptable resolution. Recent research aided by hardware improvements and specimen preparation advances has made some progress toward this goal. This article reviews the historical developments in this field, presents some recent results, and considers what life science researchers might expect from this technology.

scholarly journals An atomic-scale view at the composition of amyloid-beta fibrils by atom probe tomography

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiane A.K. Rusitzka ◽  
Leigh T. Stephenson ◽  
Agnieszka Szczepaniak ◽  
Lothar Gremer ◽  
Dierk Raabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Beta ◽  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
Protein Fibrils ◽  
Spectrometry Technique

ABSTRACTAmyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins play an important role in a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Aβ is found in senile plaques in brains of Alzeimer’s disease patients. The 42 residues of the monomer form dimers which stack to fibrils gaining several micrometers in length. Using Aβ fibrils with 13C and 15N marker substitution, we developed an innovative approach to obtain insights to structural and chemical information of the protein. We deposited the modified protein fibrils to pre-sharped aluminium needles with >100-nm apex diameters and, using the position-sensitive mass-to-charge spectrometry technique of atom probe tomography, we acquired the chemically-resolved three dimensional information for every detected ion evaporated in small fragments from the protein. We also discuss the influence of experimental parameters such as pulse energy and pulse frequency of the used Laser beam which lead to differences in the size of the gained fragments, developing the capability of localising metal atom within Aβ plaques.

Three-dimensional Structural and Chemical Characterization via STEM of a Candidate Standard Reference Material for Atom Probe Tomography

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (S2) ◽  
pp. 580-581
Author(s):  
A. Herzing ◽  
K. Henry ◽  
E. Steel
Keyword(s):  
Reference Material ◽  
Standard Reference Material ◽  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Atom Probe

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, July 29 – August 2, 2012.

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

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.

Challenges Associated with the Characterisation of Nanocrystalline Materials Using Atom Probe Tomography

2010 ◽  
Vol 654-656 ◽  
pp. 2366-2369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Zai Tang ◽  
Talukder Alam ◽  
Michael P. Moody ◽  
Baptiste Gault ◽  
Julie M. Cairney
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Nanocrystalline Materials ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Compositional Information

Atom probe tomography provides compositional information in three dimensions at the atomic scale, and is therefore extremely suited to the study of nanocrystalline materials. In this paper we present atom probe results from the investigation of nanocomposite TiSi¬Nx coatings and nanocrystalline Al. We address some of the major challenges associated with the study of nanocrystalline materials, including specimen preparation, visualisation, common artefacts in the data and approaches to quantitative analysis. We also discuss the potential for the technique to relate crystallographic information to the compositional maps.

scholarly journals A New Specimen Preparation Method for Three-Dimensional Atom Probe

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Hanaoka ◽  
S. Mikami ◽  
N. Mayama ◽  
T. Iwata ◽  
Y. Kajiwara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preparation Method ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Specimen Preparation

scholarly journals High-Accuracy Sample Preparation for Three Dimensional Atom Probe Tomography Using Orthogonal Column Layout FIB-SEM and its STEM function

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 830-831
Author(s):  
Miki Tsuchiya ◽  
Yoshihisa Orai ◽  
Takahiro Sato ◽  
Xin Man ◽  
Junichi Katane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sample Preparation ◽  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
High Accuracy

scholarly journals Practical Issues for Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of III-Nitride Semiconductor Materials

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 544-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengzai Tang ◽  
Michael P. Moody ◽  
Tomas L. Martin ◽  
Paul A.J. Bagot ◽  
Menno J. Kappers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Laser Energy ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Specimen Preparation ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Pole Structure ◽  
Gan Heterostructure ◽  
Ga Content

AbstractVarious practical issues affecting atom probe tomography (APT) analysis of III-nitride semiconductors have been studied as part of an investigation using a c-plane InAlN/GaN heterostructure. Specimen preparation was undertaken using a focused ion beam microscope with a mono-isotopic Ga source. This enabled the unambiguous observation of implantation damage induced by sample preparation. In the reconstructed InAlN layer Ga implantation was demonstrated for the standard “clean-up” voltage (5 kV), but this was significantly reduced by using a lower voltage (e.g., 1 kV). The characteristics of APT data from the desorption maps to the mass spectra and measured chemical compositions were examined within the GaN buffer layer underlying the InAlN layer in both pulsed laser and pulsed voltage modes. The measured Ga content increased monotonically with increasing laser pulse energy and voltage pulse fraction within the examined ranges. The best results were obtained at very low laser energy, with the Ga content close to the expected stoichiometric value for GaN and the associated desorption map showing a clear crystallographic pole structure.

Atom-probe tomography of surface oxides and oxidized grain boundaries in alloys from nuclear reactors

2013 ◽  
Vol 1514 ◽  
pp. 107-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Kruska ◽  
David W Saxey ◽  
Takumi Terachi ◽  
Takuyo Yamada ◽  
Peter Chou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Grain Boundaries ◽  
Atom Probe Tomography ◽  
Nuclear Reactors ◽  
Bulk Material ◽  
Chemical Characterization ◽  
Atom Probe ◽  
Aqueous Environment ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Surface Oxides

ABSTRACTThe preparation of site-specific atom-probe tomography (APT) samples containing localized features has become possible with the use of focused ion beams (FIBs). This technique was used to achieve the analysis of surface oxides and oxidized grain boundaries in this paper. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), providing microstructural and chemical characterization of the same features, has also been used, revealing crucial additional information.The study of grain boundary oxidation in stainless steels and nickel-based alloys is required in order to understand the mechanisms controlling stress corrosion cracking in nuclear reactors. Samples oxidized under simulated pressurized water reactor primary water conditions were used, and FIB lift-out TEM and APT specimens containing the same oxidized grain boundary were prepared and fully characterized. The results from both techniques were found fully consistent and complementary.Chromium-rich spinel oxides grew at the surface and into the bulk material, along grain boundaries. Nickel was rejected from the oxides and accumulated ahead of the oxidation front. Lithium, which was present in small quantities in the aqueous environment during oxidation, was incorporated in the oxide. All phases were accurately quantified and the effect of different experimental parameters were analysed.

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