Correlative Mapping of Crystal Orientation and Chemistry at the Nanoscale

Advanced materials lie at the heart of a huge number of key modern technologies, from aerospace and automotive industries, to semiconductors through to surgical implants. Central to the study of materials is the ability to analyse the structure of materials from the atomic scale, up through the microscopic structure and on to the size of individual components and devices. Only by understanding this hierarchy of structure can the properties and performance of devices and components be optimised.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a key technique for characterising the local structure and chemistry of a wide range of materials. It is possible to gain information about the arrangement of atoms through imaging and electron diffraction patterns, and also to study composition via complementary spectroscopic measurements. One of the greatest strengths of the TEM is the ability to study tiny volumes of material, and hence to uncover information about the local defects and interfaces which often control the macroscopic properties of modern devices and materials.

In this proposal we aim to install a state-of-the-art TEM with a dedicated electron diffraction camera that enable ultra-fast and large area analysis of the crystal structure, orientation and strain in engineering materials, alloys, ceramics and coatings. Furthermore, the high sensitivity of the new detector will also allow the same range of experiments using low electron doses. Excitingly this will open up new opportunities to study the atomic arrangement and microstructure of materials that are traditionally not suited to electron microscopy methods. These include organic materials (such as polymers, composites and pharmaceuticals) and also the variety of novel hybrid organic-inorganic materials that are showing great potential for technologies such as solar cells, gas storage and targeted catalysis. This new advance is particularly important as such organic and hybrid materials are difficult to characterise using traditional X-ray diffraction methods and the microstructure of ordered and disordered domains, defects and interfaces is often poorly understood for these materials. Only by understanding such structural complexity can we hope to control and harness their amazing breadth of properties.

Combined with this diffraction capability will be high efficiency X-ray spectroscopy compositional analysis allowing the simultaneous analysis of the local atomic structure and chemistry of samples. Such correlative experiments will allow a better understanding of the macroscopic behaviour of materials and device, for example understanding how trace impurities affects the way cracks extend through barrier coatings or the structure changes that occur when hybrid framework materials absorb gas molecules. This will include the incorporation of advanced data science methods (often referred to as big-data approaches) to help process and understand the huge quantities of data that such a system can generate. In this way it should be possible to unlock secrets of material structure that would be impossible to ascertain by the isolated study of either crystal structure or composition.

This new analytical power will be used in conjunction with a range of in-situ experimental methods that will allow materials and devices to be subjected to conditions such as temperature, fields, stress or chemical attack during the studies. By mimicking realistic operating conditions the true behaviour of materials can be explored and optimised for the benefit of all.

The proposed instrument will provide a state-of-the-art facility for characterising advanced materials and allowing improved understanding of materials performance. Advanced materials characterisation enables the development of new and improved technologies, which provides economic benefit through industrial partnerships and new products and services; as well as providing improvements in day-to-day life as technologies become cleaner, cheaper, more efficient and more reliable.

There is a wide variety of areas where the development of advanced materials is key if we are to solve the scientific and technical issues facing UK industry and the rest of the world. Examples include:

- The development of improved aerospace and automotive alloys is essential to reduce the cost of foreign travel while reducing the carbon footprint of transport.
- The development of improved pharmaceuticals could reduce the frequency patients have to take medication and reduce the cost of public medicine.
- Addressing the corrosion and degradation of materials during their operating lifetime, this can not only save on repair and replacement of infrastructure but also lead to safer transport, industry and power networks.
- Developing new framework materials for gas storage, allowing safer nuclear technologies or producing more efficient filters leading to cleaner air and water around the world have clear environmental impact.
- Understanding the interaction between nanomaterials and biological systems to allow new medical technologies and to manage issues of toxicity.

The importance of access to high level TEM characterisation for UK industry is illustrated by the large volume of our facilities current research funding that is either directly from industry or associated with industrial support (estimated >60%).

The new TEM has a further goal to increase our ability to supply UK industry with highly skilled researchers. The human output of the facility will be scientists with cutting edge technical and problem solving abilities, who will provide evident benefit to the skills base of the wider UK workforce, especially given the current shortage of highly skilled candidates for engineering and technical roles in the UK economy. An example of this is that the instrument has the capability to produce very large and complex data sets and researchers with the skills required to analyse such big data systems are known to be of high demand for high tech companies such as google, IBM etc.