Mineralized dental tissues and dental pulp were characterized using advanced analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. Quantitative X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy was employed to determine the Ca/P and Mg/P concentration ratios. Significantly lower Ca/P concentration ratios were measured in peritubular dentine compared to intertubular dentine, which is accompanied by higher and variable Mg/P concentration ratios. There is strong evidence that magnesium is partially substituting calcium in the hydroxyapatite structure. Electron energy-loss near-edge structures (ELNES) of C-K and O-K from enamel and dentine are noticeably different. We observe a strong influence of beam damage on mineralized dental tissues and dental pulp, causing changes of the composition and consequently also differences in the ELNES. In this article, the importance of TEM sample preparation and specimen damage through electron irradiation is demonstrated.

In perovskite oxide based materials and hetero-structures there are often strong correlations between oxygen octahedral distortions and functionality. Thus, atomistic understanding of the octahedral distortion, which requires accurate measurements of atomic column positions, will greatly help to engineer their properties. Here, we report the development of a software tool to extract quantitative information of the lattice and of BO6 octahedral distortions from STEM images. Center-of-mass and 2D Gaussian fitting methods are implemented to locate positions of individual atom columns. The precision of atomic column distance measurements is evaluated on both simulated and experimental images. The application of the software tool is demonstrated using practical examples.

We report a software tool for post-correcting the linear and nonlinear image distortions of atomically resolved 3D spectrum imaging as well as 4D diffraction imaging. This tool improves the interpretability of distorted scanning transmission electron microscopy spectrum/diffraction imaging data.

Using spherical aberration corrected high-resolution and analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy, we have quantitatively studied the lattice distortion and the redistribution of charges in two-dimensionally strontium (Sr)-doped La2CuO4 superlattices, in which single LaO planes are periodically replaced by SrO planes. As shown previously, such structures show Tc up to 35 K as a consequence of local charge accumulation on both sides of the nominal SrO planes position. This is caused by two distinct mechanisms of doping: heterogeneous doping at the downward side of the interface (space–charge effect) and “classical” homogeneous doping at the upward side. The comparative chemical and atomic-structural analyses reveal an interrelation between local CuO6 octahedron distortions, hole spatial distribution, and chemical composition. In particular we observe an anomalous expansion of the apical oxygen–oxygen distance in the heterogeneously doped (space–charge) region, and a substantial shrinkage of the apical oxygen–oxygen distance in the homogeneously doped region. Such findings are interpreted in terms of different Jahn–Teller effects occurring at the two interface sides (downward and upward).

Teeth are an excellent example where optimally designed nanoarchitectures with precisely constructed components consist of simple compounds. Typically, these simple constituent phases with insignificant properties show mechanical property amplifications when formed into composite architectures. Material properties of functional composites are generally regulated on the nanoscale, which makes their characterization particularly demanding. Using advanced analytical and imaging transmission electron microscopy techniques, we identified innovative microstructural adjustments combined with astonishing compositional adaptations in incisors of coypu. Unique constituents, recognized as an additional amorphous Fe-rich surface layer followed by a transition zone covering pigmented enamel, provide the required structural stability to withstand repeated mechanical load. The chemically diverse Fe-rich surface layer, including ferrihydrite and iron-calcium phosphates, gives the typical orange-brown coloration to the incisors. Within the spaces between elongated hydroxyapatite crystals in the pigmented enamel, only ferrihydrite was found, implying that enamel pigmentation is a very strictly controlled process. Most significantly, an unprecedentedly high amount of Mg was measured in the amorphous flake-like material within the dentinal tubules of the incisors, suggesting the presence of a (Mg,Ca) phosphate phase. This unusually high influx of Mg into the dentin of incisors, but not molars, suggests a substantial functionality of Mg in the initial formation stages and constant growth of incisors. The present results emphasize the strong mutual correlation among the microstructure, chemical composition, and mechanical properties of mineralized dental tissues.

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