Transmission electron microscopy is used to study the crystalline granular structure of a low-temperature GaAs epitaxial layer grown on a Si(100) substrate. The grain sizes are determined using a series of electron-microscopy images acquired in a small range of tilt angles of a plan-view specimen around the Si[110] and Si[1 $$\bar {1}$$ 0] directions. The grain boundaries can be unambiguously identified by the digital processing of images obtained by bright-field transmission electron microscopy and using electrons scattered at small angles by scanning transmission electron microscopy. The effectiveness of a semi-automated method for detecting grain boundaries is demonstrated; the method is used to plot and analyze a histogram of the grain distribution by their lateral sizes.

The GaAs layer turn on Ge at a right angle in the substrate plane was studied by high-energy electron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy methods when growing GaAs/Ge/GaAs heterostructures using individual molecular-beam epitaxy systems for GaAs and Ge, with sample transfer through atmosphere.

The article proposes a new way for visualization of mesopores and quantitative evaluation of the pore structure in zeolite crystals. The approach is based on platinum tracking inside the zeolite material after its incorporation from a gaseous precursor using an electron beam prior to preparing a TEM specimen by the focused ion beam technique. The pores in mesoporous silica and purely microporous zeolite Y were visualized in TEM images in a demonstration of the capabilities of the approach. Finally, platinum tracking was used for studying the pore structure of zeolite Y (CBV 720) containing mesopores both inside the crystal and those emerging at its surface, which were unambiguously distinguished from each other. The obtained sizes of the mesopores and the calculated material porosity are in good agreement with the results obtained by the low-temperature argon sorption isotherms method.

Electron microscopy studies of nanoparticles in pyroboroncarbon reveal the pentagonal symmetry of their structure. The nanoparticles consisting of crystal individuals separated by twinning boundaries have icosahedral faceting (habit). As a result of the analysis of experimental high-resolution microphotographs of the nanoparticles via the digital processing of images based on fast Fourier transform, the conditions of phase conjugation in pyroboroncarbon are determined.

The focused ion beam technique is used for serial sectioning and visualizing 3D voids in pyroboroncarbon, measuring their volumes, and evaluating the local porosity of the material. Based on the results obtained, the error in determining the local porosity of pyroboroncarbon from the data of one section is found. With the use of serial cross sections, it is found that the porosity in the technological pyroboroncarbon crude product decreases in the course of its growth in vertical coaxial reactors.

A study of the composition and structure of large single crystal inclusions formed inside cavities in pyroboroncarbon by means of energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and electron diffraction analysis shows that they correspond to one phase of rhombohedral boron carbide. Bright-field images obtained by transmission electron microscopy show that their growth continues throughout the technological cycle of material growth due to the diffusion of boron atoms from the pyrocarbon phase of pyroboroncarbon adjacent to the cavities.

We present the results from a comparative analysis of the structures of isotropic pyrocarbon and pyroboroncarbon performed by means of transmission electronic microscopy. It is shown that the structure and properties of both materials depend on the mutual alignment of the hexagonal carbon networks forming a pyrocarbon phase. The formation of a pyrocarbon phase in pyroboroncarbon is influenced by monocrystal inclusions with sizes of 10 to 20 nm.

Carbon nanotubes grown on a silicon substrate with an array of FeNiCo20 catalyst islands are studied using focused ion beam and transmission electron microscopy. A method for preparing cross-sectional samples is proposed, which makes it possible to exclude the destructive effect of the ion beam on surface nanostructures during sample preparation using a microscopic three-dimensional protective barrier.

The synthesis of nanocomposite carbon material with an ordered structure in a porous anodic aluminum oxide template is considered. A template with a highly ordered structure provides the formation of an array of aligned carbon tubes with high aspect ratios (higher than 1000) in polycrystalline anodic aluminum oxide. The obtained material is studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Raman scattering spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

We describe how to use a system with a focused ion beam and transmission electron microscope to studying pyrocarbon and pyroboroncarbon. The advantages and disadvantages of different methods for producing thin foils by means of ion beams are demonstrated. It is shown that using a focused ion beam for the local preparation of samples allows us to find cavities in pyrocarbon materials and to establish the location of monocrystalline particles on their surfaces in pyroboroncarbon.

It is suggested to use the atomic-force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to study carbon material synthesized by catalytic pyrolysis of ethanol. It is shown how AFM and TEM can be employed to determine the geometric parameters of carbon nanofibers and nanotubes, examine their mechanical and adhesion characteristics, and analyze their structure.

Peculiarities of the structure and phase composition of pyroboroncarbon were studied by a combination of electron-microscopic techniques including electron diffraction, high-energy electron loss spectroscopy, bright-and dark-field imaging with diffraction contrast, and high-resolution measurements up to the atomic resolution level.