The paper focuses on the evolution of oriented nanostructures: An orientation in real space leads to scattering intensities with a preferred orientation with respect to the azimuthal angle in reciprocal space. Thus, the macroscopic orientation of nanostructures can be obtained from SAXS patterns. The additional advantage of in-situ SAXS is that one can directly follow the development of orientated nanostructures during thermal treatment, under extreme conditions or during processing. This is shown in the following for an orientational change of pores in two very different systems, the first being the formation of pores within carbon fibers during loading at high temperatures up to 2000 °C and the second is the development of macroscopically aligned pores in mesostructured silica in the sol-gel process during shear.

This paper will discuss the structure-property model developed that correlates the tensile modulus to the elastic properties and angular distribution of constituent graphitic layers for carbon fiber derived from a polyethylene precursor. In addition, a high-temperature fiber tensile device was built to enable heating of carbon fiber bundles at a variable rate from 25 °C to greater than ∼2300 °C, while simultaneously applying a tensile stress. This capability combined with synchrotron wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD), enabled observation in situ and in real time of the microstructural transformation from different carbon fiber precursors to high-modulus carbon fiber. Experiments conducted using PAN- and PE-derived fiber precursors reveal stark differences in their carbonization and high-temperature graphitization behavior.

Materials with different allotropes can undergo one or more phase transformations based on the changes in the thermodynamic states. Each phase is stable in a certain temperature/pressure range and can possess different physical and mechanical properties compared to the other phases. The majority of material characterizations have been carried out for materials under equilibrium conditions where the material is stabilized in a certain phase and a lesser portion is devoted for onset of transformation. Alternatively, in situ measurements can be utilized to characterize materials while undergoing phase transformation. However, most of the in situ methods are aimed at measuring the physical properties such as dielectric constant, thermal/electrical conductivity and optical properties. Changes in material dimensions associated with phase transformation, makes direct measurement of the mechanical properties very challenging if not impossible. In this study a novel non-isothermal nanoindentation technique is introduced to directly measure the mechanical properties such as stiffness and creep compliance of a material at the phase transformation point. Single crystal ferroelectric triglycine sulfate (TGS) was synthetized and tested with this method using a temperature controlled nanoindentation instrument. The results reveal that the material, at the transformation point, exhibits structural instabilities such as negative stiffness and negative creep compliance which is in agreement with the findings of published works on the composites with ferroelectric inclusions.

We have studied electrochemical Li deposition/dissolution processes at amorphous solid electrolyte (LiPON) interfaces with 30-nm-thick-Cu-current collectors at different current densities by in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When the current density is smaller than 300 μA cm−2, Li islands continue to grow under a Cu film without coalescing with their neighbors. Consequently, they produce small cracks in the Cu film leading to isolated Li rod growth from the cracks. On the other hand, a current density of 1.0 mA cm−2 provokes the nucleation of Li islands with a higher number density. They rapidly coalesce under a Cu film in all lateral directions before cracking the Cu film. High current density conditions therefore suppress Li rod growths.

In this study, we conducted the in-situ observations of the magnetic domain structure change in Nd2Fe14B magnets at elevated temperature by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) / Lorentz microscopy. The in-situ observations in Nd2Fe14B magnets revealed that the magnetization reversal easily occurred at the elevated temperature. At more than 180°C, the magnetic domain wall motion could be observed by applying the magnetic field of less than 20 mT. The motion of the magnetic domain wall was discontinuous and the domain wall jumped to one grain boundary to the neighboring grain boundary at 180°C. On the other hand, the continuous domain wall motion within grain interior as well as discontinuous domain wall motion was observed at 225°C, and some grain boundaries showed still strong pinning effect even at 225°C. The temperature dependence of the pinning effect of grain boundaries would not uniform.

The process and kinetics of carbide precipitation upon tempering of an Fe-10Cr-0.15C (wt.%) alloy fabricated from high-purity components has been studied. Differential scanning calorimetry reveals three exotherms in a temperature range of 100-700°C. Using advanced electron microscopy and Kissinger analysis, the exothermic processes have been interpreted. Cementite precipitated first upon tempering at temperatures as low as 200°C; M7C3 and M23C6 appear at higher temperatures, precipitating at approximately the same time but on different sites (M7C3 within grains and laths and M23C6 on grain and lath boundaries). Subsequently, the more stable M23C6 coarsens at the expense of M7C3, which dissolves. The first exotherm was interpreted as being related to the precipitation of cementite whilst the other two overlapping exotherms were interpreted as relating to the concurrent precipitation and coarsening of M7C3 and M23C6, respectively. In-situ SEM and TEM observation is being conducted in order to obtain a more precise understanding and further validate the interpretation of the DSC results.

Semiconductor fluorescent quantum dots (Qdots) are popularly used as bioimaging taggants in live cell imaging and spectroscopy. In recent years, Qdots taggants are emerging in agricultural applications. Studies are primarily focused on nanotoxicity of ultra-small size water-soluble Qdots in plant systems. Nanotoxicity is correlated with Qdot core composition and surface coating. However, Qdots with certain chemical composition and surface coating may boost plant growth. In this study, we report that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) capped ∼3.5 nm size ZnS:Mn/ZnS Qdots (NAC-Qdot) are efficiently uptaken by the snow pea (Pisum sativum L., a model plant) vascular system, enhancing the root growth at a dose level of 80 μg/mL. Fluorescence microscopy studies confirmed localization of NAC-Qdots in the intercellular regions. Germination and growth of the snow pea seeds were found to be strongly dependent on Qdot dosage and incubation time with Qdots. Seed germination reached 100% within 48 hours of NAC-Qdot exposure. Based on our preliminary findings, it is suggested that NAC-Qdot can be used as systemic plant nutrient material for boosting the seed germination and plant growth.

Polymer brushes of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (PMETAC) and poly(sulfo propyl methacrylate) (PSPM) were synthesized by Atomic Transfer Radical Polymerization from planar and colloidal surfaces. Polymer brush growth was followed by QCMD and the water content determined by combined QCMD and elipsometry. From the water content the percentage of water lost during the brush collapse with the ionic strength could be obtained.

Highly charged PSPM brushes were indented by Atomic Force Microscopy at different ionic strengths. The force response was fitted to a phenomenological equation analogous to the equation of state of a compressible fluid. Internal energy and brush compressibility were obtained as a function of ionic strength.

Spherical brushes of PMETAC and PSPM display an invariance of the zeta potential with ionic strength in the range from 20 mM to 200 mM NaCl, the zeta potential remains almost constant. This invariance can be explained applying a hairy surface approach.

A special class of polymer called dendrons which are repeatedly branched polymers linked together by a network of cascade branched monomers. A composite of these dendritic polymers with linear polymers may have unique physical and chemical properties. Using contact resonance mode of atomic force microscopy we are able to detect the viscoelastic properties of the dendritic formation of the polyethylene oxide (PEO) mixed with Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). PEO is known to form nanometric crystallites due to the diffusion limited aggregation process. However, the dendritic formation in the mixture has not been reported before. The amplitude and phase of the contact resonance shows a clear dendritic growth of PEO in the composite material. The extent of the polymer crystallization can be several nanometers thick within the composite material. Additionally, the intrinsic properties of such polymers to form denrimers can be explored for fabricating polymer composites having numerous potential applications in chemical sensing, drug-delivery, energy applications and many more.

Atomic force microscopy is employed to study the structural changes in the morphology and physical characteristics of asphaltene aggregates as a function of temperature. The exotic fractal structure obtained by evaporation-driven asphaltene aggregates shows an interesting dynamics for a large range of temperatures from 25°C to 80°C. The changes in the topography, surface potential and adhesion are unnoticeable until 70°C. However, a significant change in the dynamics and material properties is displayed in the range of 70°C - 80°C, during which the aspahltene aggregates acquire ‘liquid-like’ mobility and fuse together. This behaviour is attributed to the transition from the pure amorphous phase to a crystalline liquid phase which occurs at approximately 70°C as shown by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, the charged nature of asphaltenes and bitumen is also explored using kelvin probe microscopy. Such observations can lead to the development of a rational approach to the fundamental understanding of asphaltene aggregation dynamics and may help in devising novel techniques for the handling and separation of asphaltene aggregates using dielectrophoretic methods.

Comprehensive characterization of materials suggests measuring their different properties for optimal use in technological applications and this task becomes more challenging as size of related structures decreases and their complexity increases. At smaller scales Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) enables visualization of structures and quantitative measurements of their mechanical and electric properties. So far, several properties such as elastic modulus and work of adhesion, surface potential and dielectric permittivity can be extracted from the results obtained in various AFM modes. More complicated are the AFM experiments and their analysis in case of viscoelastic, piezoelectric and thermoelectric properties. Several examples of quantitative characterization of neat polymers will be given. In many cases the dissimilarity of the components’ properties is employed for their recognition in heterogeneous systems such as polymer blends, block copolymers and metal alloys. The confined geometries, which are common for small-scale structures, might restrict such identification and a combination of AFM with spectral methods such as Raman scattering will be helpful. Achievements and challenges of compositional mapping will be illustrated on several complex materials.

A new measurement technique using a cantilever probe with an integrated thermal sensor is investigated for measuring thermal conductivity at the nanometer scale. The probe is used in a configuration wherein the laser from an atomic force microscope (AFM) heats the tip of the probe above ambient temperature. Heat is transferred from the probe to a sample based on the thermal conductivity of the sample. The heat flow creates a temperature change, as small as 0.01 °C, which is detected by the thermal sensor. The measurement technique presented offers a simple and effective method for mapping the thermal conductivity of a number of materials. We explore the ability of the technique to map silicon oxide on silicon, carbon fibers and gold nanoparticles. Analysis shows that the technique can be used to produce images with a thermal resolution surpassing 25 nm.

Mass spectrometry is one of the primary analysis techniques for biological analysis but there are technological barriers in sampling scale that must be overcome for it to be used to its full potential on the size scale of single cells. Current mass spectrometry imaging methods are limited in spatial resolution when analyzing large biomolecules. The goal of this project is to use atomic force microscope (AFM) tip enhanced laser ablation to remove material from cells and tissue and capture it for subsequent mass spectrometry analysis. The laser ablation sample transfer system uses an AFM stage to hold the metal-coated tip at a distance of approximately 10 nm from a sample surface. The metal tip acts as an antenna for the electromagnetic radiation and enables the ablation of the sample with a spot size much smaller than a laser focused with a conventional lens system. A pulsed nanosecond UV or visible wavelength laser is focused onto the gold-coated silicon tip at an angle nearly parallel with the surface, which results in the removal of material from a spot between 500 nm and 1 µm in diameter and 200 and 500 nm deep. This corresponds to a few picograms of ablated material, which can be captured on a metal surface for MALDI analysis. We have used this approach to transfer small peptides and proteins from a thin film for analysis by mass spectrometry as a first step toward high spatial resolution imaging.

The local detection of optical response at the sub-wavelength scale on a materials’ surface is an invaluable characterization capability of apertureless scanning near-field optical microscopy (ASNOM). The technique is traditionally realized in amplitude modulation (AM) AFM mode. We have expanded this method by employing an alternative scheme for the detection of the near-field and far-field responses with the use of Hybrid (HD) AFM mode. In HD mode the sample is brought to the intermittent contact with the tip in a periodic oscillation at a frequency (1-2 kHz) much smaller than the probe resonance. In every oscillation cycle the probe deflection to a set-point value is used for surface profiling. For optical measurements the metal coated AFM tip was top-illuminated by visible laser. Simultaneously with surface profiling the light scattered from tip-sample junction was collected by a sensitive photomultiplier (PMT). The homodyne optical signal detection scheme was applied to discriminate near- and far-field optical components. Our method was verified by the studies of various materials (semiconductors, metals, polymers, etc.). The presented results show that the contrast of ASNOM images can be used for compositional mapping of heterogeneous systems.

We provide a general description of the operating principle of the photo-induced force microscope (PiFM), which probes the optically induced changes in the dipolar interactions between a sharp polarizable tip and the sample, in terms of classical fields and forces. We rigorously calculate the photo-induced force behavior and compare the predicted profile with experimental results obtained from a gold nanowire.

The European Spallation Source is Europe’s next generation high-power neutron source utilising a linear accelerator and a rotating tungsten target to produce neutrons that will be used for fundamental research and industrial applications. The facility is co-hosted by the states of Denmark and Sweden, and while the main site will be placed in Lund, Sweden, the Data Management and Software Centre will be located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The facility will cover a broad range of scientific applications in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, or life sciences. A focus will also be materials science and engineering, and dedicated instruments will gradually become available to the user community once neutrons will be produced neutrons from 2019 onwards.

The evolution of texture in copper has been studied in situ as a function of the applied mechanical stress. A uniaxial tensile stage was integrated onto a Eulerian cradle in a laboratory X-ray diffraction system, providing a platform for pole figure measurements on samples under an externally applied mechanical load. Thin strips of rolled copper were investigated at various stages of elongation. The pole figures were of good quality such that the orientation distribution function could be well determined. Changes in the orientation distribution function as a function of strain along the β-fiber could be clearly observed; the initial main component S is replaced by the Copper component at higher stages of elongation.

The work presents a comparative study on GaN/AlGaN type-II heterostructures grown on c-plane Al2O3 and Si (111) substrates by Plasma Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy. The in-depth structural characterizations of these samples were performed by High-Resolution X-Ray Diffraction, X-ray Reflectivity and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. The in-plane and out-of plane strains were determined from measured c- and a-lattice parameters of the epilayers from reciprocal space mapping of both symmetric triple axis (002) and asymmetric grazing incidence (105) double axis mode. The mosaicity parameters like tilt and correlation lengths were also calculated from reciprocal space mapping. Moreover, the twist angle was measured from skew symmetric off axis scan of (102), (103), and (105) planes along with (002) symmetric plane. The defect density were measured from the full width at half maxima of skew symmetric scan of (002) and (102) reflection planes. Also, the strained states of all the layers were analyzed and corresponding Al mole fraction was calculated based on anisotropic elastic theory. The thicknesses of the layers were measured from simulation of the nominal structure by fitting with X-ray Reflectivity experimental curves and also by comparing with cross sectional Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs.

X-ray beam-induced damage in nanoscale metal islands was investigated. Monolayer-high Ni islands were prepared on a Cu(111) substrate. High brilliance X-rays with photon energies between 8.45 and 8.85 keV illuminated the sample for about 11 hours. In order to track changes in the morphology of the islands, the synchrotron X-ray scanning tunneling microscopy (SX-STM) technique was utilized. The result shows that X-ray illumination onto Ni islands does not induce noticeable damage. The study demonstrates that local beam-induced changes can be studied using SX-STM.

Through undulator sources at 3rd generation synchrotrons, highly coherent X-rays with sufficient flux are nowadays routinely available, which allow carrying over photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) from visible light to the X-ray regime. X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is based on the auto-correlation of X-ray speckle patterns during the temporal evolution of a material and provides access both to equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of materials at the Angstrom scale. Owing to technical limitations (detector readout), XPCS has typically been used for the detection of slow dynamics on the scale of seconds. The variety of scattering geometries employed in conventional X-ray analysis can be combined with XPCS. In this work, we report on bulk diffraction (XRD) used to study the prototypical shape memory alloy Ni63Al37 undergoing a structural, diffusionless (martensitic) transformation. Two-time correlation functions reveal non-equilibrium dynamics superimposed with microstructural avalanches.