Electron microscopy approach for the visualization of the epithelial and endothelial glycocalyx.

This study presents a methodological approach for the visualization of the glycocalyx by electron microscopy. The glycocalyx is a three dimensional network mainly composed of glycolipids, glycoproteins and proteoglycans associated with the plasma membrane. Since less than a decade, the epithelial and endothelial glycocalyx proved to play an important role in physiology and pathology, increasing its research interest especially in vascular functions. Therefore, visualization of the glycocalyx requires reliable techniques and its preservation remains challenging due to its fragile and dynamic organization, which is highly sensitive to the different process steps for electron microscopy sampling. In this study, chemical fixation was performed by perfusion as a good alternative to conventional fixation. Additional lanthanum nitrate in the fixative enhances staining of the glycocalyx in transmission electron microscopy bright field and improves its visualization by detecting the elastic scattered electrons, thus providing a chemical contrast.

Phase transformation in SiOx/SiO2 multilayers for optoelectronics and microelectronics applications.

Due to the quantum confinement, silicon nanoclusters (Si-ncs) embedded in a dielectric matrix are of prime interest for new optoelectronics and microelectronics applications. In this context, SiO(x)/SiO2 multilayers have been prepared by magnetron sputtering and subsequently annealed to induce phase separation and Si clusters growth. The aim of this paper is to study phase separation processes and formation of nanoclusters in SiO(x)/SiO2 multilayers by atom probe tomography. Influences of the silicon supersaturation, annealing temperature and SiO(x) and SiO2 layer thicknesses on the final microstructure have been investigated. It is shown that supersaturation directly determines phase separation regime between nucleation/classical growth and spinodal decomposition. Annealing temperature controls size of the particles and interface with the surrounding matrix. Layer thicknesses directly control Si-nc shapes from spherical to spinodal-like structures.

Narrowing the length distribution of Ge nanowires.

Synthesis of nanostructures of uniform size is fundamental because the size distribution directly affects their physical properties. We present experimental data demonstrating a narrowing effect on the length distribution of Ge nanowires synthesized by the Au-catalyzed molecular beam epitaxy on Si substrates. A theoretical model is developed that is capable of describing this puzzling behavior. It is demonstrated that the direction of the diffusion flux of sidewall adatoms is size dependent and has a major effect on the growth rate of differently sized nanowires. We also show that there exists a fundamental limitation on the maximum nanowire length that can be achieved by molecular beam epitaxy where the direction of the beam is close to the growth axis.

Efficient photogeneration of charge carriers in silicon nanowires with a radial doping gradient.

by performing electrodeless time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements, the efficiency of charge carrier generation, their mobility, and the decay kinetics on photoexcitation were studied in arrays of Si nanowires grown by the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. Large enhancements in the magnitude of the photoconductance and charge carrier lifetime are found depending on the incorporation of impurities during the growth. They are explained by the internal electric field that builds up, due to higher doped sidewalls, as revealed by detailed analysis of the nanowire morphology and chemical composition.

Comparison of radiation-induced segregation in ultrafine-grained and conventional 316 austenitic stainless steels.

Due to a high number density of grain boundaries acting as point defect sinks, ultrafine-grained materials are expected to be more resistant to irradiation damage. In this context, ultrafine-grained 316 austenitic stainless steel samples have been fabricated by high pressure torsion. Their behavior under ion irradiation has been studied using atom probe tomography. Results are compared with those obtained in an ion irradiated conventional coarse-grained steel. The comparison shows that the effects of irradiation are limited and that intragranular and intergranular features are smaller in the ultrafine-grained alloy. Using cluster dynamic modeling, results are interpreted by a higher annihilation of point defects at grain boundaries in the ultrafine-grained steel.

Lamb wave propagation in a plate with a grooved surface with several spatial periodicities.

In order to investigate non-destructively the bonding between rough plates, the problem of Lamb waves propagating on a rough plate is addressed in this paper. Numerical analysis is performed on periodical gratings made of identical triangular grooves. If the surface profile is made up of grooves with one periodicity, then a mode conversion is observed. In the wave-number/frequency space, a phonon relation is written between phonons related to the grating and to the incident and reflected-converted modes. If the grooved surface is made up of several spatial periodicities, then the phonon relation is still verified. Signal processing allows us to give an interpretation of the results in the dual space (wave-number/frequency). An experimental study is also performed to corroborate the numerical predictions.

Resonant acoustic scattering by a finite linear grating of elastic shells.

Theoretical and experimental studies of the acoustic scattering by a finite linear grating of elastic cylindrical shells are performed. It is observed that a resonant interaction takes place at low frequency when the shells are very close to each other. This phenomenon can be clearly associated to the Scholte-Stoneley wave that propagates around a single shell. It is shown that each resonance of the Scholte-Stoneley wave is split up into N resonances when N shells compose the grating.

A model accounting for spatial overlaps in 3D atom-probe microscopy.

The spatial resolution of three-dimensional atom probe is known to be mainly controlled by the aberrations of ion trajectories near the specimen surface. An analytical model accounting for the spatial overlaps that occur near phase interfaces is described. This model makes it possible to correct the apparent composition of small spherical precipitates in order to determine the true composition. The prediction of the overlap rate as a function of the particle size was found in remarkably good agreement with the simulations of ion trajectories that were made. The thickness of the mixed zone around beta precipitates was found to be of 0.3 nm for a normalised evaporation field of beta phase of 0.8. Using simulations, the overlap rate could be parameterised as a function of the apparent atomic density observed in particles. This model has been applied to copper precipitation in FeCu.

Tomographic Atom Probe: New Dimension in Materials Analysis.

: Materials science requires the use of increasingly powerful tools in materials analysis. The last 20 years have witnessed the development of a number of analytical techniques. However, among these techniques, only a few allow observation and analysis of materials at the nanometer level. The tomographic atom probe (TAP) is a three-dimensional atom-probe (3-DAP) developed at the University of Rouen. In this instrument, the specimen is field evaporated, atomic layer by atomic layer, and the use of a position-sensing system makes it possible to map out the chemical identity of individual atoms within each field-evaporated layer on a nearly atomic scale. After analysis, the volume of matter removed from the specimen can be reconstructed atom by atom in the three dimensions of real space. The main advantages of the 3-DAP is its single-atom sensitivity and very high spatial resolution. In addition to 3-D visual information on chemical heterogeneity, 3-D images give an accurate measurement of the composition of any feature without any convolution bias. This study first describes the history of the 3-DAP technique. Its main features and the latest developments of the TAP are then detailed. The performance of this instrument is illustrated through two recent applications in materials science. Possible ways to further improve the technique are also discussed.