Uncovering new materials behaviors using novel X-ray and electron computational imaging

Nanoscale imaging science is undergoing a revolution, driven by advances in coherent light sources, electron sources, algorithms and detectors. New imaging tools and methods can now capture multi-scale atomic/electronic/chemical/magnetic/structural orders and the functional properties of materials, from Ångstrom to centimeters and attosecond to static. This can uniquely connect structure to function. This talk will highlight several new discoveries including: the first general method to map 3D topological spin textures and their interactions using soft x-ray vector ptychography; the ability to directionally channel of heat by smart geometric design — a novel materials phenomenon that is associated with increased phonon scattering in the transverse plane, that drives enhanced heat conduction into the substrate; the ability to directly observe the motion of atoms during annealing of nanoparticles, leading to better understanding of this important materials process; the ability to map defects at the sub-atomic level in 2D materials; and the ability to delicately manipulate strong-coupled quantum materials using light.[1-4]

1. Honavar et al., PNAS 118, e2109056118 (2021)
   
   Rana et al., submitted (2021)
   
   Yang et al., Nature 592, 60–64 (2021)
   
   Zhang et al., PNAS 117, 8788 (2020)