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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Quantitative Atomic-Site Analysis of Functional Dopants/Point Defects in Crystalline Materials by Electron-Channeling-Enhanced Microanalysis
Published on: May 10, 2021
Scanning transmission electron microscopy using selective high-order laue zones: three-dimensional atomic ordering in
1Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS-UMR 8502, Orsay, France.
A new scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) technique, HOLZ-STEM, provides 1D periodic information along the electron path. This method reveals the 3D sodium ordering and spiral-like chains in Na0.71CoO2 with atomic resolution.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electron Microscopy
- Solid-State Chemistry
Background:
- Traditional scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) minimizes diffraction contrast.
- Obtaining 1D periodic information along the electron propagation axis is challenging.
- Understanding 3D atomic ordering is crucial for material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce a novel STEM imaging technique, HOLZ-STEM.
- Utilize high-order Laue zones (HOLZ) for enhanced imaging.
- Resolve 3D atomic ordering in materials like Na0.71CoO2.
Main Methods:
- Developed and applied HOLZ-STEM imaging.
- Leveraged diffraction contrast typically minimized in STEM.
- Achieved atomic resolution in lateral dimensions.
Main Results:
- Successfully obtained 1D periodic information along the electron propagation axis.
- Resolved the 3D long-range sodium ordering in Na0.71CoO2.
- Provided unambiguous real-space evidence of spiral-like Na-trimer chains along the c-axis.
Conclusions:
- HOLZ-STEM offers a new capability for 3D atomic structure determination.
- The technique overcomes limitations of traditional STEM for certain structural analyses.
- Revealed intricate details of sodium ordering in layered cobalt oxides.
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