Atomistic Scale Study of Radiation Effects in ABO3 Perovskites
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Gopon P
(2019)
A Nanoscale Investigation of Carlin-Type Gold Deposits: An Atom-Scale Elemental and Isotopic Perspective
in Economic Geology
Danaie M
(2016)
Characterization of Ordering in A-Site Deficient Perovskite Ca1-xLa2x/3TiO3 Using STEM/EELS.
in Inorganic chemistry
Pedrazzini S
(2017)
Nanoscale Stoichiometric Analysis of a High-Temperature Superconductor by Atom Probe Tomography.
in Microscopy and microanalysis : the official journal of Microscopy Society of America, Microbeam Analysis Society, Microscopical Society of Canada
| Description | The project has advanced techniques for the multi-scale characterisation of perovskite materials. Methods for atomic-scale visualisation based on high resolution electron microscopy and atom probe tomography have been developed. In the case of atom probe tomography, the yield of successful experiments was very low, and so new specimen preparation methodologies were developed. Furthermore, the experimental parameters were found to have significant effect on the final measurements. The work undertaken in this project sheds new light on how the way the experiment is applied is affecting the results, and enables optimisation of the analysis and ultimately shows that these materials can be characterised at the nanoscale with a high degree of confidence. |
| Exploitation Route | The project has made significant inroads into the characterisation of these materials. Rigorous experimental methodologies have been developed and presented, along with further understanding to interpret the results. The project has put these methodolgies in place such that other researchers can now implement these approaches directly. Further, development will enable analysis of peroskite materials for a broad range of applications. In particular it will underpin atomic scale investigation of radiation damage in these materials and their applicability as a waste-form for active nuclear materials. This is of interest to those working in the Energy and Defence sectors in the UK, where there is an increasing emphasis on nuclear energy and the safe and responsible management of waste. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy |
| Description | ORNL Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences User Program |
| Amount | £79,224 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | CNMS2015-093 |
| Organisation | U.S. Department of Energy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 12/2015 |
| Title | Access to Advanced Analytical TEM facility for CLTO |
| Description | Dr. Danaie has led efforts to successfully apply for access time to a new JEOL 200-ARM instrument based at Oxford, which is part of a multi-institution facility. With this, he had been able to identify microstructural segegation and details of ordering within perovskite structures, which would be difficult to obtain using any other TEM facilities. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This work is currently being drafted for publication. |
| Title | Coating of Atom Probe Tomography samples for increasing yield during analysis |
| Description | Dr. Pedrazzini spent a research visit at Cameca, Madison, where she worked on using novel metal/oxide coatings around her perovskite samples to explore ways of improving the yield during analysis of her brittle samples. This work confirmed that there is a very strong depedence of success on perovskite type, which was previously unknown. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Cameca now advise at global meetings on which perovskite materials are not suitable for APT analysis at present (SrTiO3), and this work has provided new insights into how best to apply protective coatings on all APT samples |
| Title | Optimisation of APT running conditions for YBCO |
| Description | The accurate measurement of chemistries by Atom Probe Tomography is vital to ensure data can be relied upon to interpret irradiation damage. We have explored a full range of operation parameters for the analysis of (un-irradiated) Yttrium Barium Copper Oxide, and hae found what we believe is the most accurate measurement of this composition to date. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This work is currently being drafted for publication. |
| Description | Dr. Edmondson relocation |
| Organisation | Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Dr Philip Edmondson has taken up a staff position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This will boost the project by offering access to the LEAP 4000 instrument based there, which offers an alternative facility to examine perovksite materials by Atom Probe Tomography |
| Collaborator Contribution | n/a |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | UNIQ Summer School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This UNIQ Materials Science course is an opportunity for students to experience a subject that is not offered at A-Level but uses concepts across a broad spectrum of subjects from maths to chemistry to engineering to even biology. The aim of the course is to give brief insight into this unique subject, and to break down those conventional physics, chemistry, maths subject separations. Lectures include topics such as molecular modelling, photovoltaic cells and materials for nuclear fusion, then move onto a more practical element in the afternoons, where students get to experience making your own solar cells and running mechanical property tests - sometimes with open ended investigation. There is also a tutorial session in groups of 3 to give students the full "Oxford experience", giving you them the chance to converse with experts in their field. A few tips on interviews can be picked up during the mock interview session later in the week. UNIQ is a free summer school. Most of the students that were selected to attend the school meet one or both conditions of being from a disadvantaged socio-economic background and/or from a neighbourhood with low participation in higher education. A number of the students who attended the school ultimately applied to study Materials Sceince at Oxford |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.uniq.ox.ac.uk/content/materials-science-0 |
| Description | Women in Science Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | SP delivered presentations at two "Women in Science Workshops". The workshops were aimed at female final year school students, interested in studying science at university. The day included advice on the Oxford admissions process, a Q&A session with current female science undergraduates, and seminars and talks from lecturers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |