Advanced (S)TEM Structural Characterization of Magnetic Materials for Energy Applications
Project Members
Esmaeil Adabifiroozijaei (Postdoc), Leopoldo Molina-Luna (PI)
Project description
In this project, using (scanning) transmission electron microscopy we characterize different varieties of magnetic materials that are developed for energy applications. Examples are, but not limited to FeRh equiatomic, Heusler (NiCoMnTi, MnFeIn) alloys, SmCo, Fe core-shell nanoparticles and GaNiCo additively-manufactured alloys. We use bright field, dark field, electron diffraction and high-resolution TEM imaging techniques to investigate the microstructure of the alloys, while energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning TEM (STEM) are used to reveal the chemical contrast in the nanostructure. We have the ability to resolve the atomic structure of materials using high angle annular dark field imaging and match the experimental data with the predicted structure by multisclice-based image simulation algorithms. We also perform in-situ (S)TEM under heating conditions for the investigation of phase transitions in magnetocaloric materials (e.g. FeRh alloy).
