Joint Materials/Solid Mechanics Seminar Series
“Interfaces in and between Nanoparticles”
Prof. C. Barry Carter
Head, Chemical, Materials & Biomolecular Engineering
General Secretary, the International Federation of Societies for Microscopy
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Materials Science
University of Connecticut, 191 Auditorium Road, Storrs, CT 06269
Abstract:
Transmission Electron Microscopy is the essential tool for understanding nanoparticles. Only TEM can tell you about the structure and chemistry of specific nanoparticles and the local variations due to segregation or defects. Features such as interfaces within a nanoparticle, small facets on the surface, and local chances in chemistry, which may or may not involve local changes in structure, can each be examined with near atomic resolution. TEM can also bridge the length scale to more macroscopic features such as the distribution of nanoparticles: their clustering and alignment being particularly important. We can examine the surface coating of nanoparticles and other local changes in chemistry which we intentionally or accidentally induce. We can even examine how nanoparticles change in response to applied stimuli (in particular stress, heat, the electron beam or an applied voltage).
The present talk will consider some examples of TEM studies of nanoparticles, paying particular attention to how recent improvements in the instrumentation are improving the quality of the data that the TEM produces. Throughout the talk the emphasis will be on Ceramic Materials but illustrations of metals will be included (though mainly as they relate to Ceramic Materials). Other microscopies, namely SEM, AFM and VLM, will be used to complement the information obtained in the TEM. The textbooks on Transmission Electron Microscopy and Ceramic Materials will be mentioned frequently!
Monday, March 22, 2010 - 4:00-5:00 pm - B&H Room 190
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