Three-Dimensional Coherent Bragg Imaging of Rotating Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• X-ray Physics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) is a key technique for visualizing strain in materials at the nanoscale.
• A major limitation of BCDI is sample instability caused by high-power X-ray beams, especially for small particles.
• This instability leads to uncontrolled rotations, hindering accurate 3D data reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an algorithm that corrects for unknown, beam-induced sample rotations in BCDI.
• To enable high-resolution 3D imaging of nanoparticles that exhibit instability under X-ray irradiation.
• To unlock the full potential of advanced synchrotron sources for nanoscale strain analysis.

Main Methods:

• Devised an adapted diffraction volume assembly algorithm to process datasets from rotating samples.
• Applied the algorithm to gold nanoparticles subjected to a focused coherent X-ray beam.
• Reconstructed 3D shapes and strain fields from the collected diffraction data.

Main Results:

• Successfully recovered 3D datasets from gold nanoparticles undergoing uncontrolled rotations.
• Accurately determined the three-dimensional shapes and internal strain fields of the nanoparticles.
• Demonstrated that the developed algorithm effectively overcomes sample instability issues in BCDI.

Conclusions:

• The adapted diffraction volume assembly algorithm is a robust solution for BCDI with unstable samples.
• This advancement allows for the reliable application of BCDI at fourth-generation synchrotron facilities.
• The method paves the way for precise nanoscale strain imaging of sensitive materials.