Calibration of Atom Probe Tomography Reconstructions Through Correlation with Electron Micrographs.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Atom probe tomography (APT) provides high-resolution chemical analysis but requires accurate reconstruction for structural interpretation.
• Reliable spatial scaling in APT reconstructions is essential for deriving meaningful structural information.
• Current methods for calibrating APT reconstructions can be complex and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, automated approach for calibrating APT reconstructions.
• To improve the accuracy of spatial scaling in APT data.
• To facilitate the integration of chemical and structural information from APT.

Main Methods:

• Developed an algorithm for automated calibration of APT reconstructions.
• Utilized a single correlative projection electron microscopy (EM) image for calibration.
• Employed a 2D cross-correlation algorithm comparing microstructural features in APT and EM data.

Main Results:

• Successfully calibrated APT reconstructions using the automated method.
• Demonstrated the protocol's effectiveness on a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 semiconductor and a Co-based superalloy.
• Achieved reliable spatial scaling for structural inferences from APT volumes.

Conclusions:

• The new automated method simplifies and enhances the calibration of APT reconstructions.
• This approach effectively couples chemical precision with structural information.
• The protocol offers a more accessible way to obtain reliable structural data from APT.