Sub-Angstrom Atomic-Resolution Imaging of Heavy Atoms to Light Atoms

Journal Article · Fri May 23 04:00:00 EDT 2003 · Microscopy and Microanalysis

OSTI ID:822959

O'Keefe, Michael A ^[1]; Shao-Horn, Yang

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1. LBNL Library

Three decades ago John Cowley and his group at ASU achieved high-resolution electron microscope images showing the crystal unit cell contents at better than 4Angstrom resolution. Over the years, this achievement has inspired improvements in resolution that have enabled researchers to pinpoint the positions of heavy atom columns within the cell. More recently, this ability has been extended to light atoms as resolution has improved. Sub-Angstrom resolution has enabled researchers to image the columns of light atoms (carbon, oxygen and nitrogen) that are present in many complex structures. By using sub-Angstrom focal-series reconstruction of the specimen exit surface wave to image columns of cobalt, oxygen, and lithium atoms in a transition metal oxide structure commonly used as positive electrodes in lithium rechargeable batteries, we show that the range of detectable light atoms extends to lithium. HRTEM at sub-Angstrom resolution will provide the essential role of experimental verification for the emergent nanotech revolution. Our results foreshadow those to be expected from next-generation TEMs with Cs-corrected lenses and monochromated electron beams.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. Basic Energy Sciences (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 822959
• Report Number(s): LBNL--52090
• Journal Information: Microscopy and Microanalysis, Journal Name: Microscopy and Microanalysis Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 10; ISSN 1431-9276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ATOMS
CARBON
COBALT
ELECTRODES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPES
LENSES
LITHIUM
NITROGEN
OXIDES
OXYGEN
RESOLUTION
SUB-ANGSTROM ATOMIC-RESOLUTION HREM LITHIUM BATTERY FSR ESW
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERIFICATION