TY - JOUR

T1 - Analysis of nanoscale fluid inclusions in geomaterials by atom probe tomography: Experiments and numerical simulations

AU - Dubosq, Renell

AU - Gault, B

AU - Hatzoglou, C

AU - Schweinar, K

AU - Vurpillot, F

AU - Rogowitz, A

AU - Rantitsch, Gerd

AU - Schneider, D

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2020/11

Y1 - 2020/11

N2 - The spatial correlation between defects in crystalline materials and trace element segregation plays a fundamental role in determining the physical and mechanical properties of a material, which is particularly important in naturally deformed materials. Herein, we combine electron backscatter diffraction, electron channelling contrast imaging, scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography on a naturally occurring metal sulphide in an attempt to document mechanisms of element segregation in a brittle-dominated deformation regime. Within APT reconstructions, features with a high point density comprising O-rich discs stacked over As-rich spherules are observed. The combined microscopy data allow us to interpret these as nanoscale fluid inclusions. Our observations are confirmed by simulated APT experiments of core-shell particles with a core exhibiting a very low evaporation field and the shell emulating a segregated layer at the inclusion interface. Our data has significant trans-disciplinary implications to the geosciences, the material sciences, and analytical microscopy.

AB - The spatial correlation between defects in crystalline materials and trace element segregation plays a fundamental role in determining the physical and mechanical properties of a material, which is particularly important in naturally deformed materials. Herein, we combine electron backscatter diffraction, electron channelling contrast imaging, scanning transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography on a naturally occurring metal sulphide in an attempt to document mechanisms of element segregation in a brittle-dominated deformation regime. Within APT reconstructions, features with a high point density comprising O-rich discs stacked over As-rich spherules are observed. The combined microscopy data allow us to interpret these as nanoscale fluid inclusions. Our observations are confirmed by simulated APT experiments of core-shell particles with a core exhibiting a very low evaporation field and the shell emulating a segregated layer at the inclusion interface. Our data has significant trans-disciplinary implications to the geosciences, the material sciences, and analytical microscopy.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089273313&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2020.113092

DO - 10.1016/j.ultramic.2020.113092

M3 - Article

VL - 218.2020

JO - Ultramicroscopy

JF - Ultramicroscopy

SN - 0304-3991

IS - November

M1 - 113092

ER -