
AbstractThe Ångström-sized probe of the scanning transmission electron microscope can visualize and collect spectra from single atoms. This can unambiguously resolve the chemical structure of materials, but not their isotopic composition. Here we differentiate between two isotopes of the same element by quantifying how likely the energetic imaging electrons are to eject atoms. First, we measure the displacement probability in graphene grown from either12C or13C and describe the process using a quantum mechanical model of lattice vibrations coupled with density functional theory simulations. We then test our spatial resolution in a mixed sample by ejecting individual atoms from nanoscale areas spanning an interface region that is far from atomically sharp, mapping the isotope concentration with a precision better than 20%. Although we use a scanning instrument, our method may be applicable to any atomic resolution transmission electron microscope and to other low-dimensional materials.
GRAPHITE, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Science, GRAPHENE EDGES, FOS: Physical sciences, ENERGETICS, Article, RATIO, TOF-SIMS, CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS, 103042 Electron microscopy, DAMAGE, Condensed Matter - Materials Science, SPECTROSCOPY, Mass spectrometry, 103042 Elektronenmikroskopie, Q, 103018 Materialphysik, Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci), 104012 Mikroanalyse, MASS-SPECTROMETRY, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), 104012 Microanalysis, GENERALIZED GRADIENT APPROXIMATION, Atomistic models, Graphene, 103018 Materials physics, Transmission electron microscopy
GRAPHITE, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Science, GRAPHENE EDGES, FOS: Physical sciences, ENERGETICS, Article, RATIO, TOF-SIMS, CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS, 103042 Electron microscopy, DAMAGE, Condensed Matter - Materials Science, SPECTROSCOPY, Mass spectrometry, 103042 Elektronenmikroskopie, Q, 103018 Materialphysik, Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci), 104012 Mikroanalyse, MASS-SPECTROMETRY, Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), 104012 Microanalysis, GENERALIZED GRADIENT APPROXIMATION, Atomistic models, Graphene, 103018 Materials physics, Transmission electron microscopy
| citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 79 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 1% |
