Research

Nanoscale local crystal structure and electrostatic potential analysis using nano-electron probe

Local crystal structure analysis is increasingly important in functional materials that exhibit intriguing physical properties induced by nanoscale local structures and crystal interfaces. For this purpose, the convergent-beam electron diffraction (CBED) method using nano-electron probe is extremely advantageous. Using the CBED method, we developed a quantitative analysis method of local structures and electrostatic potential distributions based on the dynamical diffraction (multiple scattering) theory, and applied it to various functional materials. Furthermore, we are developing a method to investigate spatial variations of local structures and electrostatic potential distributions in crystal interfaces and nanodomain structures by using the STEM-CBED/4D-STEM method.

We welcome foreign students and postdoc researchers.
The following projects are ongoing.

+ Study of local crystal structures and microscopic mechanism of Martensitic phase transformations using electron nano-probe, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2022 – 2024, Kenji TSUDA

+ Local crystal structure analysis of dopant atoms of carbides in high chromium irons using electron multi-probes, Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2023 – 2024, Kenji TSUDA

+ Development of local electron density and physical property analysis method for two dimensional structure, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 2022-2026, Daisuke MORIKAWA

+ Innovation of drug discovery through visualization of structures beyond atomic coordinates, Realization of common platform technologies, facilities and equipment
that create innovative knowledge and products, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 2023-2028, (Director) Koji YONEKURA, (Co-Investigator) Kenji TSUDA