Measuring Lattice Strain in Three Dimensions through Electron Microscopy

Nano Lett. 2015 Oct 14;15(10):6996-7001. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b03008. Epub 2015 Sep 9.

Abstract

The three-dimensional (3D) atomic structure of nanomaterials, including strain, is crucial to understand their properties. Here, we investigate lattice strain in Au nanodecahedra using electron tomography. Although different electron tomography techniques enabled 3D characterizations of nanostructures at the atomic level, a reliable determination of lattice strain is not straightforward. We therefore propose a novel model-based approach from which atomic coordinates are measured. Our findings demonstrate the importance of investigating lattice strain in 3D.

Keywords: 3D lattice strain; Atomic resolution; Au nanodecahedron; electron tomography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't