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Single-atom dynamics in scanning transmission electron microscopy

  • Single Atom Fabrication with Beams and Probes
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Abstract

The correction of aberrations in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) has simultaneously improved both spatial and temporal resolution, making it possible to capture the dynamics of single atoms inside materials, and resulting in new insights into the dynamic behavior of materials. In this article, we describe the different beam–matter interactions that lead to atomic excitations by transferring energy and momentum. We review recent examples of sequential STEM imaging to demonstrate the dynamic behavior of single atoms both within materials, at dislocations, at grain and interface boundaries, and on surfaces. We also discuss the effects of such dynamic behavior on material properties. We end with a summary of ongoing instrumental and algorithm developments that we anticipate will improve the temporal resolution significantly, allowing unprecedented insights into the dynamic behavior of materials at the atomic scale.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the collaborators that made the work presented and cited here, in particular, S.T. Pantelides, A.Y. Borisevich, P. Gao, N. Shibata, and Y. Ikuhara. R.M. acknowledges financial support through the National Science Foundation (Grant No. DMREF-1729787). Research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was supported by the Division of Materials Sciences and Engineering, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. S.J.P. is grateful to the National University of Singapore for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Washington University, USA

    Rohan Mishra

  2. Institute of Engineering Innovation, The University of Tokyo, Japan

    Ryo Ishikawa

  3. Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA

    Andrew R. Lupini

  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, India

    Stephen J. Pennycook

  5. The University of Tennessee, USA

    Stephen J. Pennycook

  6. Vanderbilt University, USA

    Stephen J. Pennycook

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  1. Rohan Mishra
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Mishra, R., Ishikawa, R., Lupini, A.R. et al. Single-atom dynamics in scanning transmission electron microscopy. MRS Bulletin 42, 644–652 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs.2017.187

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