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Quantification and optimization of ADF-STEM image contrast for beam-sensitive materials.

ABSTRACT: Many functional materials are difficult to analyse by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) on account of their beam sensitivity and low contrast between different phases. The problem becomes even more severe when thick specimens need to be investigated, a situation that is common for materials that are ordered from the nanometre to micrometre length scales or when performing dynamic experiments in a TEM liquid cell. Here we report a method to optimize annular dark-field (ADF) STEM imaging conditions and detector geometries for a thick and beam-sensitive low-contrast specimen using the example of a carbon nanotube/polymer nanocomposite. We carried out Monte Carlo simulations as well as quantitative ADF-STEM imaging experiments to predict and verify optimum contrast conditions. The presented method is general, can be easily adapted to other beam-sensitive and/or low-contrast materials, as shown for a polymer vesicle within a TEM liquid cell, and can act as an expert guide on whether an experiment is feasible and to determine the best imaging conditions.

SUBMITTER: Gnanasekaran K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5990820 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Quantification and optimization of ADF-STEM image contrast for beam-sensitive materials.

Gnanasekaran Karthikeyan K de With Gijsbertus G Friedrich Heiner H

Royal Society open science 20180502 5

Many functional materials are difficult to analyse by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) on account of their beam sensitivity and low contrast between different phases. The problem becomes even more severe when thick specimens need to be investigated, a situation that is common for materials that are ordered from the nanometre to micrometre length scales or when performing dynamic experiments in a TEM liquid cell. Here we report a method to optimize annular dark-field (ADF) STEM im ...[more]

PMID: 29892376

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Project description:Serial electron diffraction (SerialED), which applies a snapshot data acquisition strategy for each crystal, was introduced to tackle the problem of radiation damage in the structure determination of beam-sensitive materials by three-dimensional electron diffraction (3DED). The snapshot data acquisition in SerialED can be realized using both transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopes (TEM/STEM). However, the current SerialED workflow based on STEM setups requires special external devices and software, which limits broader adoption. Here, we present a simplified experimental implementation of STEM-based SerialED on Thermo Fisher Scientific STEMs using common proprietary software interfaced through Python scripts to automate data collection. Specifically, we utilize TEM Imaging and Analysis (TIA) scripting and TEM scripting to access the STEM functionalities of the microscope, and DigitalMicrograph scripting to control the camera for snapshot data acquisition. Data analysis adapts the existing workflow using the software CrystFEL, which was developed for serial X-ray crystallography. Our workflow for STEM SerialED can be used on any Gatan or Thermo Fisher Scientific camera. We apply this workflow to collect high-resolution STEM SerialED data from two aluminosilicate zeolites, zeolite Y and ZSM-25. We demonstrate, for the first time, ab initio structure determination through direct methods using STEM SerialED data. Zeolite Y is relatively stable under the electron beam, and STEM SerialED data extend to 0.60 Å. We show that the structural model obtained using STEM SerialED data merged from 358 crystals is nearly identical to that using continuous rotation electron diffraction data from one crystal. This demonstrates that accurate structures can be obtained from STEM SerialED. Zeolite ZSM-25 is very beam-sensitive and has a complex structure. We show that STEM SerialED greatly improves the data resolution of ZSM-25, compared with serial rotation electron diffraction (SerialRED), from 1.50 to 0.90 Å. This allows, for the first time, the use of standard phasing methods, such as direct methods, for the ab initio structure determination of ZSM-25.

Project description:ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to: 1) assess the feasibility of left ventricular (LV) vortex flow analysis using contrast echocardiography (CE); and 2) characterize and quantify LV vortex flow in normal subjects and patients with LV systolic dysfunction.BackgroundVortices that form during LV filling have specific geometry and anatomical locations that are critical determinants of directed blood flow during ejection. Therefore, it is clinically relevant to assess the vortex flow patterns to better understand the LV function.MethodsTwenty-five patients (10 normal and 15 patients with abnormal LV systolic function) underwent CE with intravenous contrast agent, Definity (Bristol-Myers Squibb Medical Imaging, Inc., North Billerica, Massachusetts). The velocity vector and vorticity were estimated by particle image velocimetry. Average vortex parameters including vortex depth, transverse position, length, width, and sphericity index were measured. Vortex pulsatility parameters including relative strength, vortex relative strength, and vortex pulsation correlation were also estimated.ResultsVortex depth and vortex length were significantly lower in the abnormal LV function group (0.443 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.482 +/- 0.06, p < 0.05; 0.366 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.467 +/- 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). Vortex width was greater (0.209 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.128 +/- 0.06, p < 0.01) and sphericity index was lower (1.86 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.66 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001) in the abnormal LV function group. Relative strength (1.13 +/- 0.4 vs. 2.10 +/- 0.8, p < 0.001), vortex relative strength (0.57 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.19 +/- 0.5, p < 0.001), and vortex pulsation correlation (0.63 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.31 +/- 0.5, p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the abnormal LV function group.ConclusionsIt was feasible to quantify LV vorticity arrangement by CE using particle image velocimetry in normal subjects and those with LV systolic dysfunction, and the vorticity imaging by CE may serve as a novel approach to depict vortex, the principal quantity to assess the flow structure.

Dataset Information

Quantification and optimization of ADF-STEM image contrast for beam-sensitive materials.

Publications

Quantification and optimization of ADF-STEM image contrast for beam-sensitive materials.

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