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Artifacts in high resolution HAADF STEM imaging can be induced if the specimen is too thick. For instance, Figure 2937 shows high resolution STEM ADF images taken from (001) SrTiO3 single crystals in different specimen thicknesses (t). The ADF lattice periodicity of the specimen in the thickness of t/λ=6 does not represent the periodicity of the crystal potential, indicating there is an imaging artifact when the specimen is too thick.
Figure 2937. High resolution STEM ADF images taken from (001) SrTiO3 single crystals as a function of crystal thickness: (a) t/λ = 0.25, (b) =0.5, (c) = 0.9, (d) = 1.2, (e) =6. λ is the mean free path (λ = ~115 nm for SrTiO3) and ADF collection angle here was 46–104 mrad.
Adapted from [1]
It should be highlighted that the ADF contrast maximum did not occur at the thinnest area but at t/λ = 0.9. They [1] suggested the reason for that is there was a surface amorphous layer on the specimen. Therefore, in very thin regions, the fraction of the crystal is small comparing with that of amorphous surface, resulting in lower image contrast.
[1] H. Inada, D.Su, R. F. Egerton, M.Konno, L.Wu, J.Ciston, J.Wall, Y.Zhu, Atomic imaging using secondary electrons in a scanning transmission electron microscope: Experimental observations and possible mechanisms, Ultramicroscopy 111(2011)865–876.
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