Frontiers of Atom Probe Tomography Physics, Data Processing, and Analysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Atom probe tomography (APT) is vital for nanoscale 3D compositional analysis.
• Limitations in APT data interpretation necessitate improved workflows.
• Understanding field evaporation is crucial for accurate reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in field evaporation analysis and modeling.
• To identify challenges in APT data analysis, translation, and interpretation.
• To highlight the critical need for standardization in APT research.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental and modeling developments in field evaporation.
• Analysis of common artifacts in reconstructed APT data.
• Discussion of current challenges and the need for community standards.

Main Results:

• New insights into field evaporation processes and associated artifacts.
• Identification of significant challenges in APT data analysis and interpretation.
• Emphasis on the lack of community-agreed standards hindering reproducibility.

Conclusions:

• Standardization across all stages of APT research is essential for reliable data.
• Improved understanding of field evaporation will mitigate reconstruction artifacts.
• Establishing reproducible workflows is critical for the materials characterization community.