Exploring nanoscale chemical distributions for energy applications using atom probe tomography

Life on earth exists due to a delicate balance with nature, one that has been skewed in our favor since the industrial revolution. The growing population demands energy for homes, offices, portable devices and transportation. However, our reliance on natural gas/coal and petroleum to fulfill these requirements have led to an unprecedented increase in atmospheric CO2 levels that threaten our own existence. A paradigm shift in how we generate, store and monitor energy is needed, with green energy and sustainability paving a way forward. The advent of photovoltaics and Li-ion battery have given us the necessary tools to bring about this change, but continued research relies on a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved and materials developed for each technology. As the materials chemistry, size of particles and nature of the interfaces become more complex, the need for nanoscale analysis has never been more aptly described. 3D tomographic measurements can provide a clear picture of the materials composition and interface properties, with atom probe tomography (APT) allowing a nanoscale chemical and spatial analysis. Herein, we use APT to enhance our understanding of the device mechanisms and core material properties for photovoltaics, Li-ion batteries and state-of-the-art semiconductor fins. Our understanding can help to build better structure-property relations by tying in nanoscale analysis with bulk properties that will ultimately lead to better design and development of energy devices across a broad range of technologies