Three-Dimensional Imaging of Individual Point Defects Using Selective Detection Angles in Annular Dark Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel STEM imaging method that enhances 3D detection of individual point defects by selecting specific low scattering angles, enabling high-precision structural analysis of materials.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a new technique using selective low-angle annular dark field imaging to improve 3D defect characterization in electron microscopy.

Findings

Contrast of defect-containing columns is highly depth-dependent at low scattering angles.

Selecting 20-40 mrad angles enhances defect contrast significantly.

The method is effective across different sample thicknesses and orientations.

Abstract

We propose a new scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) technique that can realize the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of vacancies, lighter and heavier dopants with high precision. Using multislice STEM imaging and diffraction simulations of beta-Ga2O3 and SrTiO3, we show that selecting a small range of low scattering angles can make the contrast of the defect-containing atomic columns substantially more depth-dependent. The origin of the depth-dependence is the de-channeling of electrons due to the existence of a point defect in the atomic column, which creates extra ripples at low scattering angles. We show that, by capturing the de-channeling signal with narrowly selected annular dark field angles (e.g. 20-40 mrad), the contrast of a column containing a point defect in the image can be significantly enhanced. The effect of sample thickness, crystal orientation, probe convergence angle, and experimental uncertainty will also be discussed. Our new technique can therefore create new opportunities for highly precise 3D structural characterization of individual point defects in functional materials.