Atom Probe Tomography: Development and Application to the Geosciences. Issue 1 (26th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reddy, Steven M.; Saxey, David W.; Rickard, William D. A.; Fougerouse, Denis; Montalvo, Stephanie D.; Verberne, Rick; van Riessen, Arie
• Is Part Of: Geostandards and geoanalytical research. Volume 44:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 5
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2020-02-26
• Subjects: atom probe -- microscopy -- mineral -- geochemistry -- isotope geochemistry -- nanoscale; Analytical geochemistry -- Periodicals; Géochimie analytique -- Périodiques; 551.9
• DOI: 10.1111/ggr.12313
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1639-4488

Abstract

Abstract : Atom probe tomography (APT) is an analytical technique that provides quantitative three‐dimensional elemental and isotopic analyses at sub‐nanometre resolution across the whole periodic table. Although developed and mostly used in the materials science and semiconductor fields, recent years have seen increasing development and application in the geoscience and planetary science disciplines. Atom probe studies demonstrate compositional complexity at the nanoscale and provide fundamental new insights into the atom‐scale mechanisms taking place in minerals over geological time. Here, we provide an overview of APT, including the historical development and technical aspects of the instrumentation, and the fundamentals of data acquisition, data processing and data reconstruction. We also review previous studies and highlight the potential future applications of nanoscale geochemical studies of natural materials. Key Points: Atom probe tomography is a time‐of‐flight analytical technique that yields 3D, nanoscale, composition and isotopic data from geological materials. The fundamentals and history of the atom probe tomography technique are outlined. Correlative workflows and specimen preparation methods are summarised. Current and future geoscience applications of atom probe tomography are discussed.