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3D imaging of nanoscale materials and their properties down to atomic resolution

©FELMI-ZFE [1]
Much like computed tomography in medicine gives 3D insight into the human body with X-rays, electron tomography in a transmission electron microscope allows seeing the interior of a materials science specimen in three dimensions. At FELMI-ZFE researchers around Georg Haberfehlner in the group of Gerald Kothleitner are developing and using these methods to understand nanomaterials and their distinct properties.
In an article published in Nature Communications, electron tomography is advanced to atomic resolution for the investigation of silver/gold core/shell nanoclusters grown in superfluid helium nanodroplets (cooperation with the Institute of Experimental Physics / TU Graz). These results allow an improved understanding of the growth and deposition process of the nanoclusters, which can then be tuned to design materials composition and properties.
Such properties are the focus of a second article published in Nano Letters. Here, surface plasmons are investigated – collective excitations of electrons in metallic nanoparticles, which confine light to subdiffraction volumes. In collaboration with the Theoretical Nanoscience group at the University of Graz, the exact 3D shape of a nanoparticle dimer – reconstructed by electron tomography – served as basis for simulating its plasmonic properties. In turn experimental measurements could verify these calculations and facilitated the direct 3D visualisation of surface plasmons in the TEM.
©FELMI-ZFE [2]
[1] Synthesis of single- and double-core/shell silver/gold nanoclusters and 3D reconstruction of the atomic structure of a nanocluster.

[2] 3D reconstruction of two coupled silver nanoparticles. Interface plasmon modes are reconstructed in three dimension and the 3D geometry serves as input for simulations of surface plasmon resonance spectra and maps matching well with experimental data

Georg Haberfehlner, Philipp Thaler, Daniel Knez, Alexander Volk, Ferdinand Hofer, Wolfgang E. Ernst, Gerald Kothleitner, Formation of bimetallic clusters in superfluid helium nanodroplets analyzed by atomic resolution electron tomography, Nature Communications
doi: 10.1038/ncomms9779
Georg Haberfehlner, Andreas Trügler, Franz P. Schmidt, Anton Hörl, Ferdinand Hofer, Ulrich Hohenester, Gerald Kothleitner, Correlated 3D Nanoscale Mapping and Simulation of Coupled Plasmonic Nanoparticles, Nano Letters
doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b03780
For further information please contact:
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Dr. Georg Haberfehlner
Steyrergasse 17/III
8010 Graz, Autria
E-mail: georg.haberfehlnernoSpam@felmi-zfe.at
Phone:
+43 (0) 316 873 8831 Spitzenliga der Elektronenmikroskopie

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