Informing quantum materials discovery and synthesis using X-ray micro-computed tomography

Lucas A. Pressley; Dave Edey; Romy Hanna; Sieun Chae; John T. Heron; Mojammel A. Khan; Tyrel M. McQueen

doi:10.1038/s41535-022-00527-6

Informing quantum materials discovery and synthesis using X-ray micro-computed tomography

Lucas A. Pressley, Dave Edey, Romy Hanna, Sieun Chae, John T. Heron, Mojammel A. Khan, Tyrel M. McQueen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The presence of inclusions, twinning, and low-angle grain boundaries, demanded to exist by the third law of thermodynamics, drive the behavior of quantum materials. Identification and quantification of these structural complexities often requires destructive techniques. X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) uses high-energy X-rays to non-destructively generate 3D representations of a material with micron/nanometer precision, taking advantage of various contrast mechanisms to enable the quantification of the types and number of inhomogeneities. We present case studies of µCT informing materials design of electronic and quantum materials, and the benefits to characterizing inclusions, twinning, and low-angle grain boundaries as well as optimizing crystal growth processes. We discuss recent improvements in µCT instrumentation that enable elemental analysis and orientation to be obtained on crystalline samples. The benefits of µCT as a non-destructive tool to analyze bulk samples should encourage the community to adapt this technology into everyday use for quantum materials discovery.

Original language	English
Article number	121
Journal	npj Quantum Materials
Volume	7
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-022-00527-6
State	Published - Dec 2022
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This work was funded by the Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), a National Science Foundation Materials Innovation Platform (NSF DMR-2039380). The UTCT facility is partially supported by NSF grant EAR-176245 with funding for the Zeiss Versa 620 funded by NSF MRI grant EAR-1919700. Access to the Bruker 1172 instrument was also possible via the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute (HEMI). L.A.P., T.M.M., and M.A.K. would like to thank Navindra Keerthisinghe, Vicky Li, Trent Kyrk, and Olivia Vilella for their group participation in the high-pressure floating zone growth of YbMgGaO4 at the 2021 PARADIM Summer School at JHU. L.A.P. would like to thank Jessica Maisano for assistance with DCT data collection, Juan Chamorro for helpful discussions and providing SmB6 samples for analysis, and Tanya Berry for conversations around applications of µCT. This work was funded by the Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM), a National Science Foundation Materials Innovation Platform (NSF DMR-2039380). The UTCT facility is partially supported by NSF grant EAR-176245 with funding for the Zeiss Versa 620 funded by NSF MRI grant EAR-1919700. Access to the Bruker 1172 instrument was also possible via the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute (HEMI). L.A.P., T.M.M., and M.A.K. would like to thank Navindra Keerthisinghe, Vicky Li, Trent Kyrk, and Olivia Vilella for their group participation in the high-pressure floating zone growth of YbMgGaO at the 2021 PARADIM Summer School at JHU. L.A.P. would like to thank Jessica Maisano for assistance with DCT data collection, Juan Chamorro for helpful discussions and providing SmB samples for analysis, and Tanya Berry for conversations around applications of µCT. 4 6

Funders	Funder number
Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute
NSF MRI	EAR-1919700
National Science Foundation Materials Innovation Platform
National Science Foundation	DMR-2039380, EAR-176245
Johns Hopkins University

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title = "Informing quantum materials discovery and synthesis using X-ray micro-computed tomography",

abstract = "The presence of inclusions, twinning, and low-angle grain boundaries, demanded to exist by the third law of thermodynamics, drive the behavior of quantum materials. Identification and quantification of these structural complexities often requires destructive techniques. X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) uses high-energy X-rays to non-destructively generate 3D representations of a material with micron/nanometer precision, taking advantage of various contrast mechanisms to enable the quantification of the types and number of inhomogeneities. We present case studies of µCT informing materials design of electronic and quantum materials, and the benefits to characterizing inclusions, twinning, and low-angle grain boundaries as well as optimizing crystal growth processes. We discuss recent improvements in µCT instrumentation that enable elemental analysis and orientation to be obtained on crystalline samples. The benefits of µCT as a non-destructive tool to analyze bulk samples should encourage the community to adapt this technology into everyday use for quantum materials discovery.",

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Informing quantum materials discovery and synthesis using X-ray micro-computed tomography

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