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Updated: Dec 20, 2025

Electron Channeling Contrast Imaging for Rapid III-V Heteroepitaxial Characterization
Published on: July 17, 2015
Electrostatic potential imaging of phase-separated structures in organic materials via differential phase contrast
Shin Inamoto1, Satoru Shimomura2, Yuji Otsuka1
1Morphological Research Laboratory, Toray Research Center, Inc., 3-7, Sonoyama 3-chome, Otsu, Shiga 520-8567, Japan.
Abstract:
Electron staining is generally performed prior to observing organic materials via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to enhance image contrast. However, electron staining can deteriorate organic materials. Here, we demonstrate electrostatic potential imaging of organic materials via differential phase contrast (DPC) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) without electron staining. Electrostatic potential imaging drastically increases the contrast between different materials. Phase-separated structures in a poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend that are impossible to observe using conventional STEM are clearly visualized. Furthermore, annealing behavior of the phase-separated structures is directly observed. The morphological transformations in the samples are consistent with their physical parameters, including their glass transition and melting temperatures. Our results indicate that electrostatic potential imaging is highly effective for observing organic materials.
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