Search results for "Transmission electron microscopy"
showing 10 items of 421 documents
The growth of oxide platelets on nickel in pure oxygen. II. Surface analyses and growth mechanism
1993
The structural properties of NiO platelets emerging from a primary oxide layer by oxidation of pretreated nickels in pure oxygen between 650 and 800° C have been investigated in relation with the initial metallic layers and the primary oxide. Surface composition and segregation of impurities were also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Textural properties and structural orientation of both the primary oxide layer and the platelets were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Platelets grew along {111} planes, leading to elliptical or semicircular bicrystals. The driving force for the present type of growth originates from…
Initial chemical transport of reducing elements and chemical reactions in oxide cathode base metal
2002
Abstract In the present work, the formation of compounds associated to the diffusion of reducing elements (Mg and Al) to the nickel surface of a one-piece oxide cathode has been studied. Those compounds have been evidenced after the annealing steps at high temperature performed on cathode base metal prior to the emitting coating deposition. Therefore, they form the “initial” interface between the nickel and the coating, in other words, the interface existing at the beginning of cathode life. Extensive analysis to characterize the nickel base prior to coating deposition has been performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), …
Diamond nucleation on iridium: local variations of structure and density within the BEN layer
2009
Abstract The diamond nuclei generated by the bias enhanced nucleation (BEN) on iridium are gathered in well defined areas (“domains”). In atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements they become manifest in a 1 nm downward step. The fine structure of the carbon layer inside and outside these domains has been studied by small spot Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), AFM and lateral force microscopy (LFM). The Auger spectra of the carbon KLL peak taken in an ultra high vacuum setup revealed diamond features inside and more graphitic features outside the domains. The comparison with the intensity of the Auger signal originating from the un…
Nanoprobing the acidification process during intracellular uptake and trafficking
2015
Abstract Many nanoparticular drug delivery approaches rely on a detailed knowledge of the acidification process during intracellular trafficking of endocytosed nanoparticles (NPs). Therefore we produced a nanoparticular pH sensor composed of the fluorescent pH-sensitive dual wavelength dye carboxy seminaphthorhodafluor-1 (carboxy SNARF-1) coupled to the surface of amino-functionalized polystyrene NPs (SNARF-1-NP). By applying a calibration fit function to confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images, local pH values were determined. The acidification and ripening process of endo/lysosomal compartments containing nanoparticles was followed over time and was found to progress up to 6h to …
Structural and functional characterization of enamel pigmentation in shrews.
2013
Pigmented tooth enamel occurs in several vertebrate clades, ranging from mammals to fish. Although an iron compound is associated with this orange to red colored pigmentation, its chemical and structural organization within the enamel is unknown. To determine the nature of the iron compound, we investigated heavily pigmented teeth of the northern short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda using combined characterization techniques such as scanning and transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. We found that the pigmentation of the enamel with an iron content of around 8wt% results from a close to amorphous magnetite phase deposited around the nm-sized enamel crystals. Fu…
Tuning the size and shape of nano-boehmites by a free-additive hydrothermal method
2015
A synthetic procedure allowing the control of boehmite micro and nanoparticles is presented. The proposed hydrothermal synthetic procedure is based on the control of three reaction parameters, the pH and temperature of precipitation of xerogels and the water/xerogel ratio for the hydrothermal process, carried out at 200 °C for 48 h. Results obtained by measurements on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that at pH 5 micro or nanorods of controlled length between ca. 300 and 50 nm were obtained depending on the temperature of precipitation of the xerogel (25 or 100 °C) and the water/xerogel ratio used (1/1, 6/1, 15/1). On the contrary, at pH 10, nanoplatelets with major ba…
Going beyond histology. Synchrotron micro-computed tomography as a methodology for biological tissue characterization: from tissue morphology to indi…
2009
Current light microscopic methods such as serial sectioning, confocal microscopy or multiphoton microscopy are severely limited in their ability to analyse rather opaque biological structures in three dimensions, while electron optical methods offer either a good three-dimensional topographic visualization (scanning electron microscopy) or high-resolution imaging of very thin samples (transmission electron microscopy). However, sample preparation commonly results in a significant alteration and the destruction of the three-dimensional integrity of the specimen. Depending on the selected photon energy, the interaction between X-rays and biological matter provides semi-transparency of the spe…
Microstructure and mechanical effects of spark plasma sintering in alumina monolithic ceramics
2013
The specific effects of spark plasma sintering (SPS) on the creep behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties of alumina monolithic ceramic were investigated. SPS introduces strains that concentrate at grain boundaries and inhibit crack growth, resulting in an improvement in the flexural strength and fracture toughness. However, creep blocks grain boundary movements and decreases the reliability of the material. These strains can be removed by a post-sintering thermal treatment, which plays an important role in the distribution of dislocations.
Structural and Chemical Characterization of Cerium Oxide Thin Layers Grown on Silicon Substrate
2015
In this study, we report transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy study of cerium oxide thin layers deposited on silicon substrate. Transmission electron microscopy experiments have revealed the flat morphology of the deposited layers. In addition, studies of high resolution images have indicated the presence of mainly ceria crystallized nanoparticles. Energy electron loss spectroscopy measurements were also performed in scanning mode to study the evolution of the cerium valence. In addition to Ce4+ inside the layer, the presence of amorphous cerium silicate with valence +3 is pointed out at the vicinity of the substrate.
Growth of nano-porous Pt-doped cerium oxide thin films on glassy carbon substrate
2013
Abstract Glassy carbon (GC) substrates were treated by the oxygen plasma over several periods of time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) study showed the dramatic influence of oxygen plasma on the morphology of glassy carbon. The treatment leads to the formation of nanostructured surface, which consists of well separated rod-like nanostructures oriented perpendicularly to the substrate surface. The surface roughness was found to increase with increasing treatment time. By using magnetron co-sputtering of platinum and cerium oxide we can prepare oxide layers continuously doped with Pt atoms during the growth. This tec…