To benefit from the latest technical improvements in atom probe analysis, a new tomographic atom probe has been built at the University of Münster, Germany. The instrument utilizes a femtosecond laser system with a high repetition rate combined with the ability of using a micrometer-sized extraction electrode and a wide angle configuration. Since field evaporation is triggered by laser pulses instead of high-voltage pulses, the instrument offers the ability to expand the range of analyzed materials to poorly conducting or insulating materials such as oxides, glasses, ceramics, and polymeric materials. The article describes the design of the instrument and presents characterizing measurements on metals, semiconductors, and oxide ceramic.
We examined Cd diffusion in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 layers by means of the radiotracer technique. Depth profiles of 109Cd were determined by ion-beam sputter-sectioning upon isothermal diffusion in the range from 197 to 425 °C. The Cd diffusivity can be described by the Arrhenius equation DCd = 4.8 × 10−4 exp (−1.04 eV/kBT )cm2s−1. Atom-probe tomography on a sample saturated with natural Cd at 450 °C revealed its homogeneous incorporation over the crystal volume.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.