Study of nucleation and crystallization of vitreous/amorphous material by aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy: thermodynamic and kinetic aspects.

• Grant number: 15/17258-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: June 01, 2016
• End date: May 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Jefferson Bettini
• Grantee: Jefferson Bettini
• Host Investigator: Angus I Kirkland
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Oxford, England
• Associated research grant: 13/07793-6 - CEPIV - Center for Teaching, Research and Innovation in Glass, AP.CEPID

Abstract

The main aims of the project are to study the nucleation process, growth of nuclei (crystallization) and segregation of phases in glassy-amorphous materials by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Amorphous thin films prepared using thermal evaporation and vitreous-amorphous lamellas made by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) method will be characterized using in-situ TEM techniques. Structural and compositional changes focused on nucleation and crystallization process will be analyzed by electron diffraction, high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy in order to improve theoretical thermodynamic-kinetic models. Understanding these physical and chemical processes are critical for the development of new materials and to improve the processes used in glassy-amorphous industries.