Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are excellent semiconductors that have led to breakthroughs in applications in thinfilmsolar cells, detectors, and light-emitting diodes due to their remarkable optoelectronic propertie...Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are excellent semiconductors that have led to breakthroughs in applications in thinfilmsolar cells, detectors, and light-emitting diodes due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and defect tolerance.However, the performance and stability of MHP-based devices are significantly influenced by their microstructures includingthe formation of defects, composition fluctuations, structural inhomogeneity, etc. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) is a powerful tool for direct observation of microstructure at the atomic-scale resolution and has been used to correlatethe microstructure and performance of MHP-based devices. In this review, we highlight the application of TEMtechniques in revealing the microstructures of MHP thin films at the atomic scale. The results provide critical understandingof the performance of MHP devices and guide the design of strategies for improving the performance and stability ofMHP devices.展开更多
Ultrafast transmission electron microscope(UTEM) with the multimodality of time-resolved diffraction, imaging,and spectroscopy provides a unique platform to reveal the fundamental features associated with the interact...Ultrafast transmission electron microscope(UTEM) with the multimodality of time-resolved diffraction, imaging,and spectroscopy provides a unique platform to reveal the fundamental features associated with the interaction between free electrons and matter. In this review, we summarize the principles, instrumentation, and recent developments of the UTEM and its applications in capturing dynamic processes and non-equilibrium transient states. The combination of the transmission electron microscope with a femtosecond laser via the pump–probe method guarantees the high spatiotemporal resolution, allowing the investigation of the transient process in real, reciprocal and energy spaces. Ultrafast structural dynamics can be studied by diffraction and imaging methods, revealing the coherent acoustic phonon generation and photoinduced phase transition process. In the energy dimension, time-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy enables the examination of the intrinsic electronic dynamics of materials, while the photon-induced near-field electron microscopy extends the application of the UTEM to the imaging of optical near fields with high real-space resolution. It is noted that light–free-electron interactions have the ability to shape electron wave packets in both longitudinal and transverse directions, showing the potential application in the generation of attosecond electron pulses and vortex electron beams.展开更多
Scanning transmission electron microscopy（STEM） has been shown as powerful tools for material characterization,especially after the appearance of aberration-corrector which greatly enhances the resolution of STEM. H...Scanning transmission electron microscopy（STEM） has been shown as powerful tools for material characterization,especially after the appearance of aberration-corrector which greatly enhances the resolution of STEM. High angle annular dark field（HAADF） and annular bright field（ABF） imaging of the aberration-corrected STEM are widely used due to their high-resolution capabilities and easily interpretable image contrasts. However, HAADF mode of the STEM is still limited in detecting light elements due to the weak electron-scattering power. ABF mode of the STEM could detect light and heavy elements simultaneously, providing unprecedented opportunities for probing unknown structures of materials. Atomiclevel structure investigation of materials has been achieved by means of these imaging modes, which is invaluable in many fields for either improving properties of materials or developing new materials. This paper aims to provide a introduction of HAADF and ABF imaging techniques and reviews their applications in characterization of cathode materials, study of electrochemical reaction mechanisms, and exploring the effective design of lithium-ion batteries（LIBs）. The future prospects of the STEM are also discussed.展开更多
Reaction dynamics in gases at operating temperatures at the atomic level are the basis of heterogeneous gas-solid catalyst reactions and are crucial to the catalyst function.Supported noble metal nanocatalysts such as...Reaction dynamics in gases at operating temperatures at the atomic level are the basis of heterogeneous gas-solid catalyst reactions and are crucial to the catalyst function.Supported noble metal nanocatalysts such as platinum are of interest in fuel cells and as diesel oxidation catalysts for pollution control,and practical ruthenium nanocatalysts are explored for ammonia synthesis.Graphite and graphitic carbons are of interest as supports for the nanocatalysts.Despite considerable literature on the catalytic processes on graphite and graphitic supports,reaction dynamics of the nanocatalysts on the supports in different reactive gas environments and operating temperatures at the single atom level are not well understood.Here we present real time in-situ observations and analyses of reaction dynamics of Pt in oxidation,and practical Ru nanocatalysts in ammonia synthesis,on graphite and related supports under controlled reaction environments using a novel in-situ environmental(scanning) transmission electron microscope with single atom resolution.By recording snapshots of the reaction dynamics,the behaviour of the catalysts is imaged.The images reveal single metal atoms,clusters of a few atoms on the graphitic supports and the support function.These all play key roles in the mobility,sintering and growth of the catalysts.The experimental findings provide new structural insights into atomic scale reaction dynamics,morphology and stability of the nanocatalysts.展开更多
The various morphologies of tracks in MoS2 irradiated by swift heavy ions at normal and 30° incidence with 9.5–25.0 MeV/u 86Kr, 129Xe, 181Ta, and 209Bi ions were investigated by transmission electron microscopy....The various morphologies of tracks in MoS2 irradiated by swift heavy ions at normal and 30° incidence with 9.5–25.0 MeV/u 86Kr, 129Xe, 181Ta, and 209Bi ions were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The diameter of ion tracks increases from 1.9 nm to 4.5 nm with increasing electronic energy loss. The energy loss threshold of the track formation in MoS2 is predicted as about 9.7 keV/nm based on the thermal spike model and it seems consistent with the experimental results. It is shown that the morphology of ion tracks is related to the penetration length of ions in MoS2. The formation process of ion tracks is discussed based on the cooperative process of outflow and recrystallization of the molten phase during rapid quenching.展开更多
The microstructural characteristic of the misfit-layered compound PbTiS3 has been studied with transmission electron microscopy. All the incommensurate modulation-induced satellite spots and main diffraction spots of ...The microstructural characteristic of the misfit-layered compound PbTiS3 has been studied with transmission electron microscopy. All the incommensurate modulation-induced satellite spots and main diffraction spots of basic sublattices can be indexed systematically with a superspace group method. Finally, the relationship between the electronic transport properties and the crystal structure is discussed.展开更多
To gain further understanding of the luminescence properties of multiquantum wells and the factors affecting them on a microscopic level,cathodoluminescence combined with scanning transmission electron microscopy and ...To gain further understanding of the luminescence properties of multiquantum wells and the factors affecting them on a microscopic level,cathodoluminescence combined with scanning transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy was used to measure the luminescence of In_(0.15)Ga_(0.85)N five-period multiquantum wells.The lattice-composition-energy relationship was established with the help of energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy,and the bandgaps of In_(0.15)Ga_(0.85)N and GaN in multiple quantum wells were extracted by electron energy loss spectroscopy to understand the features of cathodoluminescence spectra.The luminescence differences between different periods of multiquantum wells and the effects of defects such as composition fluctuation and dislocations on the luminescence of multiple quantum wells were revealed.Our study establishing the direct relationship between the atomic structure of In_(x)Ga_(1-x)N multiquantum wells and photoelectric properties provides useful information for nitride applications.展开更多
High-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM)promises rapid atomic-scale dynamic structure imaging.Yet,the precision limitations of aberration parameters and the challenge of eliminating aberrations in Cs-co...High-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM)promises rapid atomic-scale dynamic structure imaging.Yet,the precision limitations of aberration parameters and the challenge of eliminating aberrations in Cs-corrected transmission electron microscopy constrain resolution.A machine learning algorithm is developed to determine the aberration parameters with higher precision from small,lattice-periodic crystal images.The proposed algorithm is then validated with simulated HRTEM images of graphene and applied to the experimental images of a molybdenum disulfide(MoS_(2))monolayer with 25 variables(14 aberrations)resolved in wide ranges.Using these measured parameters,the phases of the exit-wave functions are reconstructed for each image in a focal series of MoS_(2)monolayers.The images were acquired due to the unexpected movement of the specimen holder.Four-dimensional data extraction reveals time-varying atomic structures and ripple.In particular,the atomic evolution of the sulfur-vacancy point and line defects,as well as the edge structure near the amorphous,is visualized as the resolution has been improved from about 1.75?to 0.9 A.This method can help salvage important transmission electron microscope images and is beneficial for the images obtained from electron microscopes with average stability.展开更多
It is still a great challenge at present to combine the high rate capability of the electrochemical capacitor with the high electrochemical capacity feature of rechargeable battery in energy storage and transport devi...It is still a great challenge at present to combine the high rate capability of the electrochemical capacitor with the high electrochemical capacity feature of rechargeable battery in energy storage and transport devices. By studying the lithiation mechanism of Li_4Ti_5O_12 （LTO） using in-situ electron holography, we find that double charge layers are formed at the interface of the insulating Li_4Ti_5O_12 （Li_4） phase and the semiconducting Li_7Ti_5O_12 （Li_7） phase, and can greatly boost the lithiation kinetics. The electron wave phase of the LTO particle is found to gradually shrink with the interface movement, leaving a positive electric field from Li_7 to Li_4 phase. Once the capacitive interface charges are formed, the lithiation of the core/shell particle could be established within 10 s. The ultrafast kinetics is attributed to the built-in interface potential and the mixed Ti3＋/Ti4＋ sites at the interface that could be maximally lowering the thermodynamic barrier for Li ion migration.展开更多
High nickel content worsens the thermal stability of layered cathodes for lithium-ion batteries,raising safety concerns for their applications.Thoroughly understanding the thermal failure process can offer valuable gu...High nickel content worsens the thermal stability of layered cathodes for lithium-ion batteries,raising safety concerns for their applications.Thoroughly understanding the thermal failure process can offer valuable guidance for material optimization on thermal stability and new opportunities in monitoring battery thermal runaway(TR).Herein,this work comprehensively investigates the thermal failure process of a single-crystal nickel-rich layered cathode and finds that the latent thermal failure starts at∼120℃far below the TR temperature(225℃).During this stage of heat accumulation,sequential structure transition is revealed by atomic resolution electron microscopy,which follows the layered→cation mixing layered→LiMn_(2)O_(4)-type spinel→disordered spinel→rock salt.This progression occurs as a result of the continuous migration and densification of transition metal cations.Phase transition generates gaseous oxygen,initially confined within the isolated closed pores,thereby not showing any thermal failure phenomena at the macro-level.Increasing temperature leads to pore growth and coalescence,and eventually to the formation of open pores,causing oxygen gas release and weight loss,which are the typical TR features.We highlight that latent thermal instability occurs before the macro-level TR,suggesting that suppressing phase transitions caused by early thermal instability is a crucial direction for material optimization.Our findings can also be used for early warning of battery thermal runaway.展开更多
Minimizing disorder and defects is crucial for realizing the full potential of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs) materials and improving device performance to desired properties. However, the meth...Minimizing disorder and defects is crucial for realizing the full potential of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs) materials and improving device performance to desired properties. However, the methods in defect controlcurrently face challenges with overly large operational areas and a lack of precision in targeting specific defects. Therefore,we propose a new method for the precise and universal defect healing of TMD materials, integrating real-time imaging withscanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). This method employs electron beam irradiation to stimulate the diffusionmigration of surface-adsorbed adatoms on TMD materials grown by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy (MBE),and heal defects within the diffusion range. This approach covers defect repairs ranging from zero-dimensional vacancydefects to two-dimensional grain orientation alignment, demonstrating its universality in terms of the types of samples anddefects. These findings offer insights into the use of atomic-level focused electron beams at appropriate voltages in STEMfor defect healing, providing valuable experience for achieving atomic-level precise fabrication of TMD materials.展开更多
The microstructure significantly influences the superconducting properties.Herein,the defect structures and atomic arrangements in high-temperature Bi_(2)Sr_(2)CaCu_(2)O8_(+σ) superconducting wire are directly charac...The microstructure significantly influences the superconducting properties.Herein,the defect structures and atomic arrangements in high-temperature Bi_(2)Sr_(2)CaCu_(2)O8_(+σ) superconducting wire are directly characterized via stateof-the-art scanning transmission electron microscopy.Interstitial oxygen atoms are observed in both the charge reservoir layers and grain boundaries in the doped superconductor.Inclusion phases with varied numbers of CuO_(2) layers are found,and twist interfaces with different angles are identified.This study provides insights into the structures of Bi-2212 wire and lays the groundwork for guiding the design of microstructures and optimizing the production methods to enhance superconducting performance.展开更多
The discovery of nickelate superconductors,including doped infinite-layer(IL)nickelates RNiO2(R=La,Pr,Nd),layered square-planar nickelate Nd6Ni5O12,and the Ruddlesden–Popper(RP)phase La3Ni2O7,has spurred immense inte...The discovery of nickelate superconductors,including doped infinite-layer(IL)nickelates RNiO2(R=La,Pr,Nd),layered square-planar nickelate Nd6Ni5O12,and the Ruddlesden–Popper(RP)phase La3Ni2O7,has spurred immense interest in fundamental research and potential applications.Scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)has proven crucial for understanding structure–property correlations in these diverse nickelate superconducting systems.In this review,we summarize the key findings from various modes of STEM,elucidating the mechanism of different nickelate superconductors.We also discuss future perspectives on emerging STEM techniques for unraveling the pairing mechanism in the“nickel age”of superconductivity.展开更多
The electron microscope provides numerous insights into physics, from demonstrations of fundamental quantummechanical principles to the physics of imaging and materials. It reveals the atomic and electronic structure ...The electron microscope provides numerous insights into physics, from demonstrations of fundamental quantummechanical principles to the physics of imaging and materials. It reveals the atomic and electronic structure of key regionssuch as defects and interfaces. We can learn the underlying physics governing properties, and gain insight into how tosynthesize new materials with improved properties. Some recent advances and possible future directions are discussed.展开更多
Alloy-typed anode materials,endowed innately with high theoretical specific capacity,hold great promise as an alternative to intercalation-typed counterparts for alkali-ion batteries.Despite tremendous efforts devoted...Alloy-typed anode materials,endowed innately with high theoretical specific capacity,hold great promise as an alternative to intercalation-typed counterparts for alkali-ion batteries.Despite tremendous efforts devoted to addressing drastic volume change and severe pulverization issues of such anodes,the underlying mechanisms involving dynamic phase evolutions and reaction kinetics have not yet been fully comprehended.Herein,taking antimony(Sb)anode as a representative paradigm,its microscopic operating mechanisms down to the atomic scale during live(de)potassiation cycling are systematically unraveled using in situ transmission electron microscopy.Highly reversible phase transformations at single-particle level,that are Sb←→KSb_(2)←→KSb←→K_5Sb_(4)←→K_(3)Sb,were revealed during cycling.Meanwhile,multiple phase interfaces associated with different reaction kinetics coexisted and this phenomenon was properly elucidated in the context of density functional theory calculations.Impressively,previously unexplored unidirectional circulation of reaction interfaces within individual Sb particle is confirmed for both potassiation and depotassiation.Based on the empirical results,the surface diffusion-mediated potassiation-depotassiation pathways at single-particle level are suggested.This work affords new insights into energy storage mechanisms of Sb anode and valuable guidance for targeted optimization of alloy-typed anodes(not limited to Sb)toward advanced potassium-ion batteries.展开更多
We present a method using Zernike moments for quantifying rotational and reflectional symmetries in scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)images,aimed at improving structural analysis of materials at the atom...We present a method using Zernike moments for quantifying rotational and reflectional symmetries in scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)images,aimed at improving structural analysis of materials at the atomic scale.This technique is effective against common imaging noises and is potentially suited for low-dose imaging and identifying quantum defects.We showcase its utility in the unsupervised segmentation of polytypes in a twisted bilayer TaS_(2),enabling accurate differentiation of structural phases and monitoring transitions caused by electron beam effects.This approach enhances the analysis of structural variations in crystalline materials,marking a notable advancement in the characterization of structures in materials science.展开更多
Recent advances in scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)have led to increased development of multidimensional STEM imaging modalities and novel image reconstruction methods.This interest arises because the m...Recent advances in scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)have led to increased development of multidimensional STEM imaging modalities and novel image reconstruction methods.This interest arises because the main electron lens in a modern transmission electron microscope usually has a diffraction-space information limit that is significantly better than the real-space resolution of the same lens.This state-of-affairs is sometimes shared by other scattering methods in modern physics and contributes to a broader excitement surrounding multidimensional techniques that scan a probe while recording diffraction-space images,such as ptychography and scanning nano-beam diffraction.However,the contrasting resolution in the two spaces raises the question as to what is limiting their effective performance.Here,we examine this paradox by considering the effects of aberrations in both image and diffraction planes,and likewise separate the contributions of pre-and post-sample aberrations.This consideration provides insight into aberration-measurement techniques and might also indicate improvements for super-resolution techniques.展开更多
Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are highly required,especially in reducing the mileage anxiety of the widespread electric vehicles.One of the biggest bottlenecks lies in the sluggish kinetics of the Li^(+)intercal...Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are highly required,especially in reducing the mileage anxiety of the widespread electric vehicles.One of the biggest bottlenecks lies in the sluggish kinetics of the Li^(+)intercalation into the graphite anode;slow intercalation will lead to lithium metal plating,severe side reactions,and safety concerns.The premise to solve these problems is to fully understand the reaction pathways and rate-determining steps of graphite during fast Li^(+)intercalation.Herein,we compare the Li^(+)diffusion through the graphite particle,interface,and electrode,uncover the structure of the lithiated graphite at high current densities,and correlate them with the reaction kinetics and electrochemical performances.It is found that the rate-determining steps are highly dependent on the particle size,interphase property,and electrode configuration.Insufficient Li^(+)diffusion leads to high polarization,incomplete intercalation,and the coexistence of several staging structures.Interfacial Li^(+)diffusion and electrode transportation are the main rate-determining steps if the particle size is less than 10μm.The former is highly dependent on the electrolyte chemistry and can be enhanced by constructing a fluorinated interphase.Our findings enrich the understanding of the graphite structural evolution during rapid Li^(+)intercalation,decipher the bottleneck for the sluggish reaction kinetics,and provide strategic guidelines to boost the fast-charging performance of graphite anode.展开更多
文摘Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are excellent semiconductors that have led to breakthroughs in applications in thinfilmsolar cells, detectors, and light-emitting diodes due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and defect tolerance.However, the performance and stability of MHP-based devices are significantly influenced by their microstructures includingthe formation of defects, composition fluctuations, structural inhomogeneity, etc. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) is a powerful tool for direct observation of microstructure at the atomic-scale resolution and has been used to correlatethe microstructure and performance of MHP-based devices. In this review, we highlight the application of TEMtechniques in revealing the microstructures of MHP thin films at the atomic scale. The results provide critical understandingof the performance of MHP devices and guide the design of strategies for improving the performance and stability ofMHP devices.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.U22A6005 and 12074408)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No.2021YFA1301502)+7 种基金Guangdong Major Scientific Research Project (Grant No.2018KZDXM061)Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS (Grant No.2021009)Scientific Instrument Developing Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos.YJKYYQ20200055,ZDKYYQ2017000,and 22017BA10)Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos.XDB25000000 and XDB33010100)Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No.Z201100001820006)IOP Hundred Talents Program (Grant No.Y9K5051)Postdoctoral Support Program of China (Grant No.2020M670501)the Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF)。
文摘Ultrafast transmission electron microscope(UTEM) with the multimodality of time-resolved diffraction, imaging,and spectroscopy provides a unique platform to reveal the fundamental features associated with the interaction between free electrons and matter. In this review, we summarize the principles, instrumentation, and recent developments of the UTEM and its applications in capturing dynamic processes and non-equilibrium transient states. The combination of the transmission electron microscope with a femtosecond laser via the pump–probe method guarantees the high spatiotemporal resolution, allowing the investigation of the transient process in real, reciprocal and energy spaces. Ultrafast structural dynamics can be studied by diffraction and imaging methods, revealing the coherent acoustic phonon generation and photoinduced phase transition process. In the energy dimension, time-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy enables the examination of the intrinsic electronic dynamics of materials, while the photon-induced near-field electron microscopy extends the application of the UTEM to the imaging of optical near fields with high real-space resolution. It is noted that light–free-electron interactions have the ability to shape electron wave packets in both longitudinal and transverse directions, showing the potential application in the generation of attosecond electron pulses and vortex electron beams.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2014CB921002)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB07030200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51522212,51421002,and 51672307)
文摘Scanning transmission electron microscopy（STEM） has been shown as powerful tools for material characterization,especially after the appearance of aberration-corrector which greatly enhances the resolution of STEM. High angle annular dark field（HAADF） and annular bright field（ABF） imaging of the aberration-corrected STEM are widely used due to their high-resolution capabilities and easily interpretable image contrasts. However, HAADF mode of the STEM is still limited in detecting light elements due to the weak electron-scattering power. ABF mode of the STEM could detect light and heavy elements simultaneously, providing unprecedented opportunities for probing unknown structures of materials. Atomiclevel structure investigation of materials has been achieved by means of these imaging modes, which is invaluable in many fields for either improving properties of materials or developing new materials. This paper aims to provide a introduction of HAADF and ABF imaging techniques and reviews their applications in characterization of cathode materials, study of electrochemical reaction mechanisms, and exploring the effective design of lithium-ion batteries（LIBs）. The future prospects of the STEM are also discussed.
基金the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council(EPSRC),U.K.for the award of a research grant EP/J0118058/1 and postdoctoral research assistantships(PDRAs) to M.R.W.and R.W.M.from the grant。
文摘Reaction dynamics in gases at operating temperatures at the atomic level are the basis of heterogeneous gas-solid catalyst reactions and are crucial to the catalyst function.Supported noble metal nanocatalysts such as platinum are of interest in fuel cells and as diesel oxidation catalysts for pollution control,and practical ruthenium nanocatalysts are explored for ammonia synthesis.Graphite and graphitic carbons are of interest as supports for the nanocatalysts.Despite considerable literature on the catalytic processes on graphite and graphitic supports,reaction dynamics of the nanocatalysts on the supports in different reactive gas environments and operating temperatures at the single atom level are not well understood.Here we present real time in-situ observations and analyses of reaction dynamics of Pt in oxidation,and practical Ru nanocatalysts in ammonia synthesis,on graphite and related supports under controlled reaction environments using a novel in-situ environmental(scanning) transmission electron microscope with single atom resolution.By recording snapshots of the reaction dynamics,the behaviour of the catalysts is imaged.The images reveal single metal atoms,clusters of a few atoms on the graphitic supports and the support function.These all play key roles in the mobility,sintering and growth of the catalysts.The experimental findings provide new structural insights into atomic scale reaction dynamics,morphology and stability of the nanocatalysts.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11675233,11690041,11405229,11705246,and 11505243)Chinese Academy of Sciences “Light of West China” Programthe Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2020412)。
文摘The various morphologies of tracks in MoS2 irradiated by swift heavy ions at normal and 30° incidence with 9.5–25.0 MeV/u 86Kr, 129Xe, 181Ta, and 209Bi ions were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The diameter of ion tracks increases from 1.9 nm to 4.5 nm with increasing electronic energy loss. The energy loss threshold of the track formation in MoS2 is predicted as about 9.7 keV/nm based on the thermal spike model and it seems consistent with the experimental results. It is shown that the morphology of ion tracks is related to the penetration length of ions in MoS2. The formation process of ion tracks is discussed based on the cooperative process of outflow and recrystallization of the molten phase during rapid quenching.
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2012CB932302)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.50921091)the Specific Funding of the Discipline and Graduate Education Project of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education,China
文摘The microstructural characteristic of the misfit-layered compound PbTiS3 has been studied with transmission electron microscopy. All the incommensurate modulation-induced satellite spots and main diffraction spots of basic sublattices can be indexed systematically with a superspace group method. Finally, the relationship between the electronic transport properties and the crystal structure is discussed.
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2019YFA0708202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11974023, 52021006, 61974139, 12074369, and 12104017)+1 种基金the “2011 Program” from the Peking–Tsinghua–IOP Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matterthe Youth Supporting Program of Institute of Semiconductors
文摘To gain further understanding of the luminescence properties of multiquantum wells and the factors affecting them on a microscopic level,cathodoluminescence combined with scanning transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy was used to measure the luminescence of In_(0.15)Ga_(0.85)N five-period multiquantum wells.The lattice-composition-energy relationship was established with the help of energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy,and the bandgaps of In_(0.15)Ga_(0.85)N and GaN in multiple quantum wells were extracted by electron energy loss spectroscopy to understand the features of cathodoluminescence spectra.The luminescence differences between different periods of multiquantum wells and the effects of defects such as composition fluctuation and dislocations on the luminescence of multiple quantum wells were revealed.Our study establishing the direct relationship between the atomic structure of In_(x)Ga_(1-x)N multiquantum wells and photoelectric properties provides useful information for nitride applications.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.61971201)。
文摘High-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM)promises rapid atomic-scale dynamic structure imaging.Yet,the precision limitations of aberration parameters and the challenge of eliminating aberrations in Cs-corrected transmission electron microscopy constrain resolution.A machine learning algorithm is developed to determine the aberration parameters with higher precision from small,lattice-periodic crystal images.The proposed algorithm is then validated with simulated HRTEM images of graphene and applied to the experimental images of a molybdenum disulfide(MoS_(2))monolayer with 25 variables(14 aberrations)resolved in wide ranges.Using these measured parameters,the phases of the exit-wave functions are reconstructed for each image in a focal series of MoS_(2)monolayers.The images were acquired due to the unexpected movement of the specimen holder.Four-dimensional data extraction reveals time-varying atomic structures and ripple.In particular,the atomic evolution of the sulfur-vacancy point and line defects,as well as the edge structure near the amorphous,is visualized as the resolution has been improved from about 1.75?to 0.9 A.This method can help salvage important transmission electron microscope images and is beneficial for the images obtained from electron microscopes with average stability.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51501085, 11704019, 51522212 and 51421002)National Program on Key Basic Research Project (2014CB921002)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDB07030200)
文摘It is still a great challenge at present to combine the high rate capability of the electrochemical capacitor with the high electrochemical capacity feature of rechargeable battery in energy storage and transport devices. By studying the lithiation mechanism of Li_4Ti_5O_12 （LTO） using in-situ electron holography, we find that double charge layers are formed at the interface of the insulating Li_4Ti_5O_12 （Li_4） phase and the semiconducting Li_7Ti_5O_12 （Li_7） phase, and can greatly boost the lithiation kinetics. The electron wave phase of the LTO particle is found to gradually shrink with the interface movement, leaving a positive electric field from Li_7 to Li_4 phase. Once the capacitive interface charges are formed, the lithiation of the core/shell particle could be established within 10 s. The ultrafast kinetics is attributed to the built-in interface potential and the mixed Ti3＋/Ti4＋ sites at the interface that could be maximally lowering the thermodynamic barrier for Li ion migration.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12174015)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,China(2212003)+1 种基金the China National Petroleum Corporation Innovation Found(2021DQ02-1004)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12074017,12274010).
文摘High nickel content worsens the thermal stability of layered cathodes for lithium-ion batteries,raising safety concerns for their applications.Thoroughly understanding the thermal failure process can offer valuable guidance for material optimization on thermal stability and new opportunities in monitoring battery thermal runaway(TR).Herein,this work comprehensively investigates the thermal failure process of a single-crystal nickel-rich layered cathode and finds that the latent thermal failure starts at∼120℃far below the TR temperature(225℃).During this stage of heat accumulation,sequential structure transition is revealed by atomic resolution electron microscopy,which follows the layered→cation mixing layered→LiMn_(2)O_(4)-type spinel→disordered spinel→rock salt.This progression occurs as a result of the continuous migration and densification of transition metal cations.Phase transition generates gaseous oxygen,initially confined within the isolated closed pores,thereby not showing any thermal failure phenomena at the macro-level.Increasing temperature leads to pore growth and coalescence,and eventually to the formation of open pores,causing oxygen gas release and weight loss,which are the typical TR features.We highlight that latent thermal instability occurs before the macro-level TR,suggesting that suppressing phase transitions caused by early thermal instability is a crucial direction for material optimization.Our findings can also be used for early warning of battery thermal runaway.
基金the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Grant Nos.JQ24010 and Z220020)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52273279)Project supported by the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of Peking University,China for the use of Nion U-HERMES200 scanning transmission electron microscopy.We thank Materials Processing and Analysis Center,Peking University,for assistance with TEM characterization.The electron microscopy work was through a user project at Center of Oak Ridge National Laboratory(ORNL)for Nanophase Materials Sciences(CNMS),which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility.
文摘Minimizing disorder and defects is crucial for realizing the full potential of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs) materials and improving device performance to desired properties. However, the methods in defect controlcurrently face challenges with overly large operational areas and a lack of precision in targeting specific defects. Therefore,we propose a new method for the precise and universal defect healing of TMD materials, integrating real-time imaging withscanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). This method employs electron beam irradiation to stimulate the diffusionmigration of surface-adsorbed adatoms on TMD materials grown by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy (MBE),and heal defects within the diffusion range. This approach covers defect repairs ranging from zero-dimensional vacancydefects to two-dimensional grain orientation alignment, demonstrating its universality in terms of the types of samples anddefects. These findings offer insights into the use of atomic-level focused electron beams at appropriate voltages in STEMfor defect healing, providing valuable experience for achieving atomic-level precise fabrication of TMD materials.
文摘The microstructure significantly influences the superconducting properties.Herein,the defect structures and atomic arrangements in high-temperature Bi_(2)Sr_(2)CaCu_(2)O8_(+σ) superconducting wire are directly characterized via stateof-the-art scanning transmission electron microscopy.Interstitial oxygen atoms are observed in both the charge reservoir layers and grain boundaries in the doped superconductor.Inclusion phases with varied numbers of CuO_(2) layers are found,and twist interfaces with different angles are identified.This study provides insights into the structures of Bi-2212 wire and lays the groundwork for guiding the design of microstructures and optimizing the production methods to enhance superconducting performance.
基金the insightful discussions with Prof.Dongsheng Song.Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52172115)the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory Program from the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province(Grant No.2021B1212040001)+2 种基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(Grant No.2022A1515012434)Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(Grant No.20231121093057002)Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(Grant No.2022A1515010762).
文摘The discovery of nickelate superconductors,including doped infinite-layer(IL)nickelates RNiO2(R=La,Pr,Nd),layered square-planar nickelate Nd6Ni5O12,and the Ruddlesden–Popper(RP)phase La3Ni2O7,has spurred immense interest in fundamental research and potential applications.Scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)has proven crucial for understanding structure–property correlations in these diverse nickelate superconducting systems.In this review,we summarize the key findings from various modes of STEM,elucidating the mechanism of different nickelate superconductors.We also discuss future perspectives on emerging STEM techniques for unraveling the pairing mechanism in the“nickel age”of superconductivity.
文摘The electron microscope provides numerous insights into physics, from demonstrations of fundamental quantummechanical principles to the physics of imaging and materials. It reveals the atomic and electronic structure of key regionssuch as defects and interfaces. We can learn the underlying physics governing properties, and gain insight into how tosynthesize new materials with improved properties. Some recent advances and possible future directions are discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12174049,51972058)the Big Data Computing Center of Southeast University。
文摘Alloy-typed anode materials,endowed innately with high theoretical specific capacity,hold great promise as an alternative to intercalation-typed counterparts for alkali-ion batteries.Despite tremendous efforts devoted to addressing drastic volume change and severe pulverization issues of such anodes,the underlying mechanisms involving dynamic phase evolutions and reaction kinetics have not yet been fully comprehended.Herein,taking antimony(Sb)anode as a representative paradigm,its microscopic operating mechanisms down to the atomic scale during live(de)potassiation cycling are systematically unraveled using in situ transmission electron microscopy.Highly reversible phase transformations at single-particle level,that are Sb←→KSb_(2)←→KSb←→K_5Sb_(4)←→K_(3)Sb,were revealed during cycling.Meanwhile,multiple phase interfaces associated with different reaction kinetics coexisted and this phenomenon was properly elucidated in the context of density functional theory calculations.Impressively,previously unexplored unidirectional circulation of reaction interfaces within individual Sb particle is confirmed for both potassiation and depotassiation.Based on the empirical results,the surface diffusion-mediated potassiation-depotassiation pathways at single-particle level are suggested.This work affords new insights into energy storage mechanisms of Sb anode and valuable guidance for targeted optimization of alloy-typed anodes(not limited to Sb)toward advanced potassium-ion batteries.
基金funding support from the National Research Foundation (Competitive Research Program grant number NRF-CRP16-2015-05)the National University of Singapore Early Career Research Award+1 种基金supported by the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowshipa Schmidt Sciences program。
文摘We present a method using Zernike moments for quantifying rotational and reflectional symmetries in scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)images,aimed at improving structural analysis of materials at the atomic scale.This technique is effective against common imaging noises and is potentially suited for low-dose imaging and identifying quantum defects.We showcase its utility in the unsupervised segmentation of polytypes in a twisted bilayer TaS_(2),enabling accurate differentiation of structural phases and monitoring transitions caused by electron beam effects.This approach enhances the analysis of structural variations in crystalline materials,marking a notable advancement in the characterization of structures in materials science.
基金the U.S.Department of Energy,Office of Basic Energy Sciences(DOE-BES),Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering under contract ERKCS89.We acknowledge support for 4D-STEM performed as part of user proposal at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences(CNMS),which is a US Department of Energy,Office of Science,User Facility.Microscopy performed using instrumentation within ORNL’s Materials Characterization Core provided by UTBattelle,LLC,under Contract No.DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the DOE and sponsored by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory,managed by UT-Battelle,LLC,for the U.S.Department of Energy.
文摘Recent advances in scanning transmission electron microscopy(STEM)have led to increased development of multidimensional STEM imaging modalities and novel image reconstruction methods.This interest arises because the main electron lens in a modern transmission electron microscope usually has a diffraction-space information limit that is significantly better than the real-space resolution of the same lens.This state-of-affairs is sometimes shared by other scattering methods in modern physics and contributes to a broader excitement surrounding multidimensional techniques that scan a probe while recording diffraction-space images,such as ptychography and scanning nano-beam diffraction.However,the contrasting resolution in the two spaces raises the question as to what is limiting their effective performance.Here,we examine this paradox by considering the effects of aberrations in both image and diffraction planes,and likewise separate the contributions of pre-and post-sample aberrations.This consideration provides insight into aberration-measurement techniques and might also indicate improvements for super-resolution techniques.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC No.52172257 and 22005334)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing(Grant No.Z200013)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFB2502200).
文摘Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries are highly required,especially in reducing the mileage anxiety of the widespread electric vehicles.One of the biggest bottlenecks lies in the sluggish kinetics of the Li^(+)intercalation into the graphite anode;slow intercalation will lead to lithium metal plating,severe side reactions,and safety concerns.The premise to solve these problems is to fully understand the reaction pathways and rate-determining steps of graphite during fast Li^(+)intercalation.Herein,we compare the Li^(+)diffusion through the graphite particle,interface,and electrode,uncover the structure of the lithiated graphite at high current densities,and correlate them with the reaction kinetics and electrochemical performances.It is found that the rate-determining steps are highly dependent on the particle size,interphase property,and electrode configuration.Insufficient Li^(+)diffusion leads to high polarization,incomplete intercalation,and the coexistence of several staging structures.Interfacial Li^(+)diffusion and electrode transportation are the main rate-determining steps if the particle size is less than 10μm.The former is highly dependent on the electrolyte chemistry and can be enhanced by constructing a fluorinated interphase.Our findings enrich the understanding of the graphite structural evolution during rapid Li^(+)intercalation,decipher the bottleneck for the sluggish reaction kinetics,and provide strategic guidelines to boost the fast-charging performance of graphite anode.
基金supported by the Cultivation Project of Major Achievements Transformation of Sichuan Provincial Education Department(#14CZ0005)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(#21406184)
