The complementary use of electron backscatter diffraction and ion channelling imaging for the characterization of nanotwins

Abstract

SummaryOn the example of electrodeposited nickel films, it is shown that unique information on twins with dimensions on the nanoscale can be obtained by suitable combination of ion channelling imaging and electron backscatter diffraction analysis, whereas both (routine) single techniques cannot meet the requirements for analysis of these films. Highresolution electron backscatter diffraction is inadequate for full characterization of nanotwins, but image quality maps obtained from electron backscatter diffraction at least yield a qualitative estimation of the location and number of nanotwins. Complementing this information with ion channelling imaging provides more representative insights into the microstructure, because it supplements the quantitative investigation of the number and width of twin lamellae with additional crystallographic orientation analysis provided by EBSD. To this end, two methods for adjusting EBSD data based on ion channelling images are proposed. Thorough selection of the complementary techniques opens future perspectives for the investigation of other challenging samples with nanoscale features in the microstructure.

Optimal microstructural design for high thermal stability of pure FCC metals based on studying effect of twin boundaries character and network of grain boundaries

“…ECCI was applied prior to EBSD measurements using an accelerating voltage of 10 kV and a probe current of 1.4 nA. ICCI was applied as a complementary mapping to EBSD [47] using the FIB operated at 30 kV; the applied probe current was chosen to minimize the risk for ion-beam induced changes to the microstructure. To this end, the applied probe current was optimized for each sample (ion doses ranging from 0.5 -4.3 C m -2 were applied).…”

“…ICCI was always carried out as the final investigation, i.e., after EBSD had been carried out over the same area of the sample [47].…”

Characterizing the nano-structure and defect structure of nano-scaled non-ferrous structural alloys

“…A novel proposed procedure for orientation microscopy studies of nanotwins is a combination of ion channeling imaging and EBSD. In this approach, the location of nanotwins are detected by ion channeling imaging method and their orientations are determined based on the post processing of EBSD results [38]. However, this method is not a universal technique, owing to the intrinsic limitations of EBSD in general, such as the degradation of Kikuchi patterns at large strains [39].…”

Columns formed by multiple twinning in nickel layers—An approach of grain boundary engineering by electrodeposition

“…The ICI investigation was performed using Ga þ ions with an energy of 30 keV and ion density of 2.6 C/m 2 on the same location, where the orientation map was acquired beforehand for supplementary characterization at higher resolution. 19 Images covering the whole thickness of the deposit are shown in Fig. 2.…”