Insight into the Formation of Ultrafine Nanostructures in Bulk Amorphous Zr54.5 Ti7.5Al10Cu20Ni8

2001 ◽  
Vol 703 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Heinemann ◽  
Helmut Hermann ◽  
Albrecht Wiedenmann ◽  
Norbert Mattern ◽  
Uta Kühn ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBulk amorphous Zr54.5 Ti7.5Al10Cu20Ni8 is investigated by means of smal-angle neutron scattering (SANS), differential-scanning calorimetry (DSC), high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) and other methods. The formation of ultrafine nanostructures in the glassy phase is observed and explained by a new model. Structura fluctuations of randomly distributed partialy ordered domains grow during annealing just below the glass transition temperature by local re-ordering. During anneaing the DSC gives evidence for a increasing volume fraction of the localy ordered domains. At high volume fractions of impinging domains a percolation threshold on the interconnected domain boundaries occurs and enhanced diffusion becomes possible. At that stage SANS measurements lead to satistically significant scattering data. The SANS signals are anayzed in terms of a model taking into account spherica particles surrounded by diffusion zones and interparticle interference effects. The mean radius of the nanocrystaline particles is determined to 1 nm and the mean thickness of the depletion zone is 2 nm. The upper limit for the volume fraction after annealing at 653 K for 4hours is about 20 %. Electron microscopy confirms the size and shows that the particle are crystaline.

2001 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 666-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Hermann ◽  
André Heinemann ◽  
Hans-Dietrich Bauer ◽  
Norbert Mattern ◽  
Uta Kühn ◽  
...  

Bulk amorphous Zr54.5Ti7.5Al10Cu20Ni8was investigated by means of small-angle neutron scattering and high-resolution electron microscopy. Partially crystallized states were generated by annealing. The scattering data were analyzed in terms of a model taking into account both properties of the particles and interparticle interference. The mean radius of the particles is 1.3 nm. They are surrounded by a depletion zone with mean thickness of 2.6 nm. The volume fraction of the particles is estimated from the interparticle interference effect; its upper limit after annealing at 653 K for 4 h is 12%. Electron microscopy confirms the size determined from the scattering data and shows that the particles are crystalline.


Author(s):  
C. J. Buchko ◽  
P. M. Wilson ◽  
Z. Xu ◽  
J. Zhang ◽  
S. Lee ◽  
...  

The synthesis of well-defined organic molecules with unique geometries opens new opportunities for understanding and controlling the organization of condensed matter. Here, we study dendrimers and macrocycles which are synthesized from rigid phenyl-acetylene spacer units, Both units are solubilized by the presence of tertiary butyl groups located at the periphery of the molecule. These hydrocarbon materials form crystalline and liquid crystalline phases which have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry, hot stage optical microscopy, and wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS).The precisely defined architecture of these molecules makes it possible to investigate systematic variations in chemical architecture on the nature of microstructural organization. Here we report on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) studies of crystalline thin films formed by deposition of these materials onto carbon substrates from dilute solution. Electron microscopy is very attractive for gaining structural information on new molecules due to the scarcity of material to grow single crystals suitable for conventional crystallography.


1995 ◽  
Vol 403 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Schofield ◽  
R. Whig ◽  
C. R. Aita ◽  
M. Gajdardziska-Josifovska

AbstractHigh resolution electron microscopy is employed to study the crystallography and morphology of zirconia nanocrystallites in zirconia-alumina nanolaminates and zirconia films. Unity volume fraction of tetragonal zirconia formed when the zirconia layer thickness was less than 6.2 nm, a theoretically predicted critical size for tetragonal-to-monoclinic zirconia (t -> m-ZrO2) transformation. In thicker layers, monoclinic zirconia formed, accompanied by renucleation and void formation which caused roughness to the zirconia nanolayers. The average position of the voids in the layers was 6.3 nm from the growth interface, coinciding with the critical dimension for t -> m-ZrO2 transformation.


Author(s):  
R.W. Horne

The technique of surrounding virus particles with a neutralised electron dense stain was described at the Fourth International Congress on Electron Microscopy, Berlin 1958 (see Home & Brenner, 1960, p. 625). For many years the negative staining technique in one form or another, has been applied to a wide range of biological materials. However, the full potential of the method has only recently been explored following the development and applications of optical diffraction and computer image analytical techniques to electron micrographs (cf. De Hosier & Klug, 1968; Markham 1968; Crowther et al., 1970; Home & Markham, 1973; Klug & Berger, 1974; Crowther & Klug, 1975). These image processing procedures have allowed a more precise and quantitative approach to be made concerning the interpretation, measurement and reconstruction of repeating features in certain biological systems.


Author(s):  
J. A. Hugo ◽  
V. A. Phillips

A continuing problem in high resolution electron microscopy is that the level of detail visible to the microscopist while he is taking a picture is inferior to that obtainable by the microscope, readily readable on a photographic emulsion and visible in an enlargement made from the plate. Line resolutions, of 2Å or better are now achievable with top of the line 100kv microscopes. Taking the resolution of the human eye as 0.2mm, this indicates a need for a direct viewing magnification of at least one million. However, 0.2mm refers to optimum viewing conditions in daylight or the equivalent, and certainly does not apply to a (colored) image of low contrast and illumination level viewed on a fluorescent screen through a glass window by the dark-adapted eye. Experience indicates that an additional factor of 5 to 10 magnification is needed in order to view lattice images with line spacings of 2 to 4Å. Fortunately this is provided by the normal viewing telescope supplied with most electron microscopes.


Author(s):  
W. H. Wu ◽  
R. M. Glaeser

Spirillum serpens possesses a surface layer protein which exhibits a regular hexagonal packing of the morphological subunits. A morphological model of the structure of the protein has been proposed at a resolution of about 25 Å, in which the morphological unit might be described as having the appearance of a flared-out, hollow cylinder with six ÅspokesÅ at the flared end. In order to understand the detailed association of the macromolecules, it is necessary to do a high resolution structural analysis. Large, single layered arrays of the surface layer protein have been obtained for this purpose by means of extensive heating in high CaCl2, a procedure derived from that of Buckmire and Murray. Low dose, low temperature electron microscopy has been applied to the large arrays.As a first step, the samples were negatively stained with neutralized phosphotungstic acid, and the specimens were imaged at 40,000 magnification by use of a high resolution cold stage on a JE0L 100B. Low dose images were recorded with exposures of 7-9 electrons/Å2. The micrographs obtained (Fig. 1) were examined by use of optical diffraction (Fig. 2) to tell what areas were especially well ordered.


Author(s):  
Robert A. Grant ◽  
Laura L. Degn ◽  
Wah Chiu ◽  
John Robinson

Proteolytic digestion of the immunoglobulin IgG with papain cleaves the molecule into an antigen binding fragment, Fab, and a compliment binding fragment, Fc. Structures of intact immunoglobulin, Fab and Fc from various sources have been solved by X-ray crystallography. Rabbit Fc can be crystallized as thin platelets suitable for high resolution electron microscopy. The structure of rabbit Fc can be expected to be similar to the known structure of human Fc, making it an ideal specimen for comparing the X-ray and electron crystallographic techniques and for the application of the molecular replacement technique to electron crystallography. Thin protein crystals embedded in ice diffract to high resolution. A low resolution image of a frozen, hydrated crystal can be expected to have a better contrast than a glucose embedded crystal due to the larger density difference between protein and ice compared to protein and glucose. For these reasons we are using an ice embedding technique to prepare the rabbit Fc crystals for molecular structure analysis by electron microscopy.


Author(s):  
N. Tempel ◽  
M. C. Ledbetter

Carbon films have been a support of choice for high resolution electron microscopy since the introduction of vacuum evaporation of carbon. The desirable qualities of carbon films and methods of producing them has been extensively reviewed. It is difficult to get a high yield of grids by many of these methods, especially if virtually all of the windows must be covered with a tightly bonded, quality film of predictable thickness. We report here a method for producing carbon foils designed to maximize these attributes: 1) coverage of virtually all grid windows, 2) freedom from holes, wrinkles or folds, 3) good adhesion between film and grid, 4) uniformity of film and low noise structure, 5) predictability of film thickness, and 6) reproducibility.Our method utilizes vacuum evaporation of carbon from a fiber onto celloidin film and grid bars, adhesion of the film complex to the grid by carbon-carbon contact, and removal of the celloidin by acetone dissolution. Materials must be of high purity, and cleanliness must be rigorously maintained.


Author(s):  
J. C. Wheatley ◽  
J. M. Cowley

Rare-earth phosphates are of particular interest because of their catalytic properties associated with the hydrolysis of many aromatic chlorides in the petroleum industry. Lanthanum phosphates (LaPO4) which have been doped with small amounts of copper have shown increased catalytic activity (1). However the physical and chemical characteristics of the samples leading to good catalytic activity are not known.Many catalysts are amorphous and thus do not easily lend themselves to methods of investigation which would include electron microscopy. However, the LaPO4, crystals are quite suitable samples for high resolution techniques.The samples used were obtained from William L. Kehl of Gulf Research and Development Company. The electron microscopy was carried out on a JEOL JEM-100B which had been modified for high resolution microscopy (2). Standard high resolution techniques were employed. Three different sample types were observed: 669A-1-5-7 (poor catalyst), H-L-2 (good catalyst) and 27-011 (good catalyst).


Author(s):  
N. Bonnet ◽  
M. Troyon ◽  
P. Gallion

Two main problems in high resolution electron microscopy are first, the existence of gaps in the transfer function, and then the difficulty to find complex amplitude of the diffracted wawe from registered intensity. The solution of this second problem is in most cases only intended by the realization of several micrographs in different conditions (defocusing distance, illuminating angle, complementary objective apertures…) which can lead to severe problems of contamination or radiation damage for certain specimens.Fraunhofer holography can in principle solve both problems stated above (1,2). The microscope objective is strongly defocused (far-field region) so that the two diffracted beams do not interfere. The ideal transfer function after reconstruction is then unity and the twin image do not overlap on the reconstructed one.We show some applications of the method and results of preliminary tests.Possible application to the study of cavitiesSmall voids (or gas-filled bubbles) created by irradiation in crystalline materials can be observed near the Scherzer focus, but it is then difficult to extract other informations than the approximated size.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document