Towards bend-contour-free dislocation imaging via diffraction contrast STEM
Abstract
Dislocation imaging using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been an invaluable tool for characterizing crystallographic defects in metals. Compared to conventional TEM imaging, diffraction contrast imaging scanning transmission electron microscopy (DCI STEM) with appropriate setting can provide better defect contrast with almost negligible bend contour artifacts, enabling more effective analysis of dislocation structures. Here, we investigated why STEM can suppresses bend contour, and how dislocation contrast behaves along with different STEM imaging parameters. Using a body-centered cubic HT-9 ferritic/martensitic alloy as an example, a simple procedure and operational theory are described at the beginning to help set up DCI STEM experiments. Comparing with conventional TEM and the STEM strictly complying with the principle of reciprocity, we found that a pair of STEM convergence and collection semi-angles, ฮฑ S and ฮฒ S, a few milliradians in size is essential for bend-contour-free defect imaging. It works in concert such that the convergence STEM probe opens up the reciprocal space, and then a comparable collection region evens out the rocking-curve oscillation and alleviates bend contours from the reciprocal space. This fundamental advantage is unique in DCI STEM. Practical guidelines regarding STEM parameters and specimen orientation and thickness are then provided for DCI STEMmore »
- Authors:
-
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1559154
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1548114
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231; CFA 16-10570; AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Ultramicroscopy
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 193; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0304-3991
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; STEM; Dislocation image; Diffraction contrast; Reciprocity; Bend contour
Citation Formats
Zhu, Yuanyuan, Ophus, Colin, Toloczko, Mychailo B., and Edwards, Danny J. Towards bend-contour-free dislocation imaging via diffraction contrast STEM. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.06.001.
Zhu, Yuanyuan, Ophus, Colin, Toloczko, Mychailo B., & Edwards, Danny J. Towards bend-contour-free dislocation imaging via diffraction contrast STEM. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.06.001
Zhu, Yuanyuan, Ophus, Colin, Toloczko, Mychailo B., and Edwards, Danny J. Thu .
"Towards bend-contour-free dislocation imaging via diffraction contrast STEM". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.06.001. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1559154.
@article{osti_1559154,
title = {Towards bend-contour-free dislocation imaging via diffraction contrast STEM},
author = {Zhu, Yuanyuan and Ophus, Colin and Toloczko, Mychailo B. and Edwards, Danny J.},
abstractNote = {Dislocation imaging using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been an invaluable tool for characterizing crystallographic defects in metals. Compared to conventional TEM imaging, diffraction contrast imaging scanning transmission electron microscopy (DCI STEM) with appropriate setting can provide better defect contrast with almost negligible bend contour artifacts, enabling more effective analysis of dislocation structures. Here, we investigated why STEM can suppresses bend contour, and how dislocation contrast behaves along with different STEM imaging parameters. Using a body-centered cubic HT-9 ferritic/martensitic alloy as an example, a simple procedure and operational theory are described at the beginning to help set up DCI STEM experiments. Comparing with conventional TEM and the STEM strictly complying with the principle of reciprocity, we found that a pair of STEM convergence and collection semi-angles, ฮฑS and ฮฒS, a few milliradians in size is essential for bend-contour-free defect imaging. It works in concert such that the convergence STEM probe opens up the reciprocal space, and then a comparable collection region evens out the rocking-curve oscillation and alleviates bend contours from the reciprocal space. This fundamental advantage is unique in DCI STEM. Practical guidelines regarding STEM parameters and specimen orientation and thickness are then provided for DCI STEM dislocation imaging. Lastly, we show that coupling DCI STEM with spectrum images of electron energy loss spectroscopy and of energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy offers a comprehensive characterization of crystallographic defects and chemical information of complex microstructures.},
doi = {10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.06.001},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1559154},
journal = {Ultramicroscopy},
issn = {0304-3991},
number = C,
volume = 193,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {6}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:

Works referencing / citing this record:
Analysis of crystal defects by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in a modern scanning electron microscope
journal, March 2019
- Sun, Cheng; Mรผller, Erich; Meffert, Matthias
- Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging, Vol. 5, Issue 1
Analysis of crystal defects by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in a modern scanning electron microscope
journal, March 2019
- Sun, Cheng; Mรผller, Erich; Meffert, Matthias
- Advanced Structural and Chemical Imaging, Vol. 5, Issue 1
Deep Learning for Semantic Segmentation of Defects in Advanced STEM Images of Steels
journal, September 2019
- Roberts, Graham; Haile, Simon Y.; Sainju, Rajat
- Scientific Reports, Vol. 9, Issue 1