3D nanometric cnalyses via electron tomography: Application to nanomaterials

Abstract

For the last few decades, the material science community had to face the fast development of nanomaterials, justified by the actual miniaturising tendency, which recommends the close control of material properties at the nanoscale. In this context, the observed burst of electron microscopy is not surprising. Indeed, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in particular has allowed a precise observation of nanoscaled morphological features in two and three dimensions. Combining an electron tomographic approach with the modes that are available in a transmission electron microscope gives access to key information on the internal structure, morphology, porosity and chemical composition of materials. This chapter reviews the most recent developments in the field transmission electron tomography by highlighting its versatility as applied to functional materials. The examples cited cover a large variety of nanomaterials and nano-systems that find applications in different domains: catalysis, magnetism, plasmonics, energy storage, etc.