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In Situ Structural Dynamics of Atomic Defects in Tungsten Oxide.

Zejian Dong¹, Na Zhang¹, Shuangbao Wang²

¹Institute of Molecular Plus, Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

|July 29, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study directly visualizes atomic defect formation and annihilation in monoclinic WO3 using in situ atomic imaging. Understanding these defect dynamics offers insights for manipulating functional materials.

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Quantitative Atomic-Site Analysis of Functional Dopants/Point Defects in Crystalline Materials by Electron-Channeling-Enhanced Microanalysis

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Published on: May 10, 2021

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Solid State Physics
Nanotechnology

Background:

Atomic defects critically influence functional materials like catalysts and semiconductors.
Directly observing defect formation and annihilation under operational conditions is essential but challenging.
Understanding defect dynamics is key to controlling material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To directly visualize the atomic-scale formation and annihilation mechanisms of planar defects in monoclinic WO3 in real time.
To elucidate the underlying atomistic processes driving defect dynamics.
To provide insights into the manipulation of defects in functional materials.

Main Methods:

Utilized in situ atomic imaging with an aberration-corrected environmental transmission electron microscope (AC-ETEM).
Performed real-time, atomic-scale observation of defect evolution.
Employed density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations for theoretical validation.

Main Results:

Directly visualized the nucleation and propagation of dislocation cores, leading to planar defect formation in WO3.
Captured the real-time atomistic process of defect dynamics.
Rationalized dislocation formation via oxygen extraction and atomic channeling.

Conclusions:

Provided unprecedented atomic-scale insights into the real-time dynamics of planar defects in oxides.
Demonstrated the power of in situ AC-ETEM for studying defect mechanisms.
Offered a pathway for understanding and controlling defects in functional materials.