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Title: 3D lattice distortions and defect structures in ion-implanted nano-crystals

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/srep45993· OSTI ID:1349558
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [4];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Oxford (United Kingdom). Dept. of Engineering Science
  2. Univ. College, London (United Kingdom). London Centre for Nanotechnology; Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Oxford (United Kingdom). Rutherford Appleton Lab. (RAL)
  3. Univ. of Oxford (United Kingdom). Dept. of Materials
  4. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source
  5. La Trobe Univ., Melbourne, VIC (Australia). ARC Centre of Advanced Molecular Imaging; CSIRO Manufacturing Flagship, CAN Parkville (Australia)
  6. SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg (Germany). Center for Free-Electron Laser Science
  7. La Trobe Univ., Melbourne, VIC (Australia). ARC Centre of Advanced Molecular Imaging

Focussed Ion Beam (FIB) milling is a mainstay of nano-scale machining. By manipulating a tightly focussed beam of energetic ions, often gallium (Ga+), FIB can sculpt nanostructures via localised sputtering. This ability to cut solid matter on the nano-scale revolutionised sample preparation across the life, earth and materials sciences. Despite its widespread usage, detailed understanding of the FIBinduced structural damage, intrinsic to the technique, remains elusive. Here we examine the defects caused by FIB in initially pristine objects. Using Bragg Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging (BCDI), we are able to spatially-resolve the full lattice strain tensor in FIB-milled gold nano-crystals. We find that every use of FIB causes large lattice distortions. Even very low ion doses, typical of FIB imaging and previously thought negligible, have a dramatic effect. Our results are consistent with a damage microstructure dominated by vacancies, highlighting the importance of free-surfaces in determining which defects are retained. At larger ion fluences, used during FIB-milling, we observe an extended dislocation network that causes stresses far beyond the bulk tensile strength of gold. These observations provide new fundamental insight into the nature of the damage created and the defects that lead to a surprisingly inhomogeneous morphology.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC00112704; AC02-76SF00515; AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1349558
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1360215; OSTI ID: 1390607
Report Number(s):
BNL-113662-2017-JA; R&D Project: PO011; KC0201060
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Vol. 7; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 80 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Towards a quantitative determination of strain in Bragg Coherent X-ray Diffraction Imaging: artefacts and sign convention in reconstructions journal November 2019
Weaving nanostructures with site-specific ion induced bidirectional bending journal January 2019
Accurate, rapid identification of dislocation lines in coherent diffractive imaging via a min-max optimization formulation journal January 2018
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Large surface conductance and superconductivity in topological insulator microstructures journal October 2019
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A multi-scale model for stresses, strains and swelling of reactor components under irradiation journal September 2018
Deterministic X-ray Bragg coherent diffraction imaging as a seed for subsequent iterative reconstruction journal August 2018
Nanoscale imaging of the full strain tensor of specific dislocations extracted from a bulk sample journal January 2020
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Domain alignment within ferroelectric/dielectric PbTiO$_3$/SrTiO$_3$ superlattice nanostructures text January 2020