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Quantitative and qualitative characterization of aquatic iron oxyhydroxide particles by EF‐TEM
Author(s) -
Mavrocordatos,
Perret
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2818.1998.00345.x
Subject(s) - characterization (materials science) , goethite , transmission electron microscopy , ionization , analytical chemistry (journal) , iron oxide , materials science , elemental analysis , range (aeronautics) , spectroscopy , chemistry , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , metallurgy , ion , physics , organic chemistry , adsorption , chromatography , quantum mechanics , composite material
Electron energy‐loss spectroscopy (EELS) and elemental imaging under the energy‐filtered transmission electron microscope are powerful tools for the characterization of iron‐rich particles present in natural waters. Features present in EEL spectra (Fe‐M 2,3 Fe‐L 2,3 and O‐K ionization edges) of goethite (α‐FeOOH) have been studied with an energy filter operated at 80 keV to determine optimal quantification and elemental imaging of Fe‐rich natural aquatic particles in the 30–200 nm range of thickness. For quantitative aims, the Fe‐M 2,3 ionization edge cannot be used easily, but the Fe‐L 2,3 edge provides more accurate results owing to a better background extrapolation. The partial cross‐section of the Fe(III) M shell has been determined for iron oxide. The use of two‐windows (jump‐ratio) and three‐windows (background stripping) imaging methods is discussed in relation to the specimen thickness.