New Case Studies of Graphene Encapsulation for APT Analysis

Analysis of solid-liquid interfaces at the near-atomic scale is a particular challenge for most microscopy and characterisation techniques that not only pushes the limits of spatial resolution and detection but also demands specialised specimen preparation. Atom probe tomography provides a unique combination of highly resolved chemical and spatial information in three dimensions, and with the recent rise of cryo-vacuum workflow capabilities between FIB and APT instruments, access to the solid-liquid interface is possible. Graphene encapsulation of APT specimens, on the other hand, is another specimen preparation technology that provides enables this access but with relative simplicity. In this seminar, I will explore two new case studies for the application of graphene encapsulation for APT analysis: i) hydrogen/deuterium penetration related to hydrogen embrittlement of pipeline steel; ii) characterisation of the self-assembly of thiol monolayers on the surface of bulk Pd metal, and Au nanoparticles in a liquid suspension, with relation to organic surface functionalisation for the development of biosensor technologies.