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Making more with less: intelligent wavefront design to enable high resolution images of unstable samples.

Objective

The resolution of images formed using scanning transmission electron microscopes (STEMs) is no longer limited by optical limits of the microscope, but instead by sample damage during acquisition. The image is formed by a highly focused beam of electrons being scanned across the specimen, with diffraction intensities recorded at each probe position. However, the beam can also cause localised heating and rearrangement of the atomic structure – and it is this movement that ultimately limits the image quality.
Electron-beam-induced specimen damage is particularly severe for weakly-bound compounds, such as battery materials, photovoltaics or pharmaceuticals. The inability to visualise the atomic structure of these materials easily is a severe impediment to research progress in their respective fields. Overcoming the beam-damage roadblock would have a profound impact across many scientific disciplines. This can be achieved by significantly reducing the number of electrons required to form an image. The mechanics of image formation in STEMs is largely unchanged since their first demonstration 80 years ago: the probe is formed by illuminating a circular aperture with a planar electron wave, brought to a focus on the sample and raster scanned. Portions of the scattered intensity are collected to determine the intensity of the pixel associated with each probe position. Electron detectors have developed significantly in recent years - while the probe-forming apertures have received less attention. A circular aperture creates a probe with broad tails, and an image with only weak contrast, thus requiring many electrons to achieve good signal-to-noise. I have previously developed methods to reshape the electron beam to generate angular momentum. In this work, I will apply related methods to increase the image contrast by intelligent shaping of the wave front. This will reduce the required electron dose, and thus enable atomic resolution STEM imaging of beam sensitive materials.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 224 933,76
Address
WOODHOUSE LANE
LS2 9JT Leeds
United Kingdom

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Region
Yorkshire and the Humber West Yorkshire Leeds
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 224 933,76
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