Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
09:13
Characterization of Ultra-fine Grained and Nanocrystalline Materials Using Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction
Published on: April 1, 2017
14.0K
Comparing Scanning Electron Microscope and Transmission Electron Microscope Grain Mapping Techniques Applied to
Ruperto G Mariano1, Allison Yau1, Joseph T McKeown2
1Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.
ACS Omega
|February 26, 2020
Summary
Transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) accurately maps nanoparticle grain structures, outperforming automated crystal orientation mapping (ACOM) for complex materials. This validates TKD for microstructure-property studies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Crystallography
Background:
- Understanding nanoparticle functional properties necessitates detailed analysis of their internal grain structure.
- Nanoscale grain mapping is crucial for correlating microstructure with performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To directly compare the grain mapping capabilities of transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) and automated crystal orientation mapping (ACOM) for nanoparticles.
- To validate TKD as a robust method for nanoscale grain and grain boundary characterization.
Main Methods:
- Direct comparison of TKD (in scanning electron microscopy) and ACOM (in transmission electron microscopy) on Au, ZnO, ZnSe, and Cu nanoparticles.
- Analysis of grain orientations and grain boundary geometries obtained from both techniques.
Main Results:
- TKD accurately determined grain orientations and grain boundary geometries in well-defined nanoparticles, consistent with ACOM.
- TKD produced interpretable grain maps for complex polycrystalline copper nanostructures, unlike ACOM which yielded uninterpretable results.
- TKD generally offered shorter acquisition times compared to ACOM.
Conclusions:
- Transmission Kikuchi diffraction is a validated and effective technique for nanoscale grain mapping in various nanoparticles.
- TKD provides a reliable framework for investigating the influence of microstructure on nanoparticle functional properties.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Scanning Electron Microscopy
5.2K
A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the surface features of a sample by using an electron beam that scans the sample surface in a two-dimensional manner. Typically, areas between ~1 centimeter to 5 micrometers in width can be imaged. SEM can be used to image bacteria, viruses, tissues as well as larger samples like insects. Conventional SEM gives a magnification ranging from 20X to 30,000X and spatial resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers.
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
Fundamental Principles
Accelerated...
5.2K
01:25Overview of Electron Microscopy
12.8K
The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
12.8K
01:22Overview of Microscopy Techniques
14.6K
The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...
14.6K
01:07Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction
2.7K
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
2.7K
01:15Transmission Electron Microscopy
6.7K
In 1931, physicist Ernst Ruska—building on the idea that magnetic fields can direct an electron beam just as lenses can direct a beam of light in an optical microscope—developed the first prototype of the electron microscope. This development led to the development of the field of electron microscopy. In the transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrons are produced by a hot tungsten element and accelerated by a potential difference in an electron gun, which gives them up to 400...
6.7K
01:20Immunogold Electron Microscopy
5.2K
Immunoelectron microscopy utilizes immunogold labeling of endogenous proteins with specific antibodies to detect and localize these proteins in cells and tissues. The procedure provides insights into the distribution and quantification of protein under different stimulation conditions offering clues about their functions. Conjugating highly electron-dense gold particles with primary or secondary antibodies allow antigen detection on and within cells, with high resolution and specificity.
5.2K