News

Two TEM/STEM related Seminars This Friday (May 20) Marcus 1116

Seminar 1      

Putting the back focal plane back into STEM: fun with fast pixelated detectors

Dr. Ian MacLaren

University of Glasgow, School of Physics and Astronomy

Location: Marcus Nanotechnology building Rm1116,

Time: May 20, 2016 2:30PM

Abstract:  STEM has typically used HAADF imaging for a very simple and interpretable contrast.  In recent years, there has also been a resurgence of interest in bright field and annular bright field imaging in STEM in order to see lighter atoms.  However, there is much more information than this in the back focal plane, and with the advent of fast direct electron detectors, it is now possible to actually record large amounts of the back focal plane and then process the dataset to extract a variety of kinds of information.  We show the uses of this for mapping magnetic fields in materials, imaging biological structures, performing atomic resolution phase-contrast imaging, and for mapping the 3D ordering in crystals.  As part of the talk, we will discuss the integration of such a detector into a modern analytical STEM, as well as how we are dealing with data handling and processing.

Seminar 2

High Temperature Corrosion Studies of Zircaloy- 4

Kirsty Annand

University of Glasgow, School of Physics and Astronomy

Abstract: Worldwide, Zircaloy-4 (Zr-1.5%Sn-0.2%Fe-0.1%Cr) is a popular material of choice for the containment of nuclear fuel and other structural components within commercial Pressurised Water Reactors (PWRs). However, waterside corrosion of these cladding materials results in the creation of an oxide layer on the surface of the metal, which degrades these containment vessels over time.

Using dual-range electron energy loss spectroscopy (DualEELS) on a GIF Quantum mounted on our JEOL ARM200F scanning transmission electron microscope, we have studied the evolution of the corrosion of Zircaloy-4 with time under simulated PWR conditions, using FIB preparation of cross sections through the oxide scale. This allowed us to simultaneously study changes in chemical composition and dielectric function of the material at the oxide scale – metal interface with nanometre resolution.  This has allowed the correlation of the appearance of different distinct phases with the zirconium-oxygen ratio.

Furthermore, the corrosion and incorporation of Secondary Phase Particles (SPPs) in to this oxide layer in Zircaloy-4 material has been investigated. In particular, we have focused on mapping the corrosion of Zr2Fe and Zr(Cr,Fe)2 precipitates during the oxidation process, depicting their morphology as the oxidation front advances through the material.

This nanoanalytical approach reveals the true complexity of the oxidation of Zircaloy-4 – an understanding of which will be necessary for the development of sophisticated models of their influence on oxidation behaviour.

MCF 1-month checkup

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Hello All,

Our first month as an official entity ended last Friday.

A quick look at the numbers for the shared-user facility shows:

  • 20 tools used
  • 220+ unique users
  • 1000+ tool logins
  • ~1600 hours of combined tool use over the 744 hours in the month, which means that an average of 2 tools were in use every hour of every day in March.

Thanks to all for a good beginning.

The MCF Staff

Atlanta Science Festival 2016 – Thanks

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us put on our Atlanta Science Festival Event –
“Whats All the Buzz About Nanotechnology” – on March 19th.
A special thanks to Rathi Monikandan and Chris Yang for running the Hitachi tabletop and 8230 SEM’s. Roughly 100 kids and kids-at-heart learned a little about nanotechnology and had fun in the process.

 

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Follow this link to view more pictures of the event.
ATL Sci Fest Pix

Atlanta Science Festival 2016

Hello All,
 
As part of the Atlanta Science Festival, the IEN is hosting an event this Saturday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. 
It’s called “What’s all the Buzz about nanotechnology”
 
atlantasciencefestival.org
How do scientists and engineers interact with a world too small for the eyes to see? Learn how at Georgia Tech’s Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology!
 
The Marcus Microanalysis Suite of the MCF will figure prominently.  If you have, know, or fit the description of a science-interested kid-at-heart, feel free to come by and learn about the fun side of nanotechnology.