Lithium mapping in a Mg-9Li-4Al-1Zn alloy using electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Yu Zhang; Laure Bourgeois; Yu Chen; Zhuoran Zeng; Nick Birbilis; Philip N.H. Nakashima

doi:10.1016/j.jma.2023.03.011

Lithium mapping in a Mg-9Li-4Al-1Zn alloy using electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Yu Zhang, Laure Bourgeois, Yu Chen, Zhuoran Zeng, Nick Birbilis, Philip N.H. Nakashima

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Magnesium-lithium alloys with high lithium content have been attracting significant attention because of their low density, high formability and corrosion resistance. These properties are dependent on the distribution of lithium, which is difficult to map in the presence of magnesium. In this work, a ratio spectrum-imaging method with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is demonstrated, which enables the mapping of lithium. In application to LAZ941 (Mg-9Li-4Al-1 Zn in wt.%), this technique revealed that a key precipitate in the microstructure, previously thought by some to be Mg₁₇Al₁₂, is in fact rich in lithium. This result was corroborated with a structural investigation by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), showing this phase to be Al_1-xZn_xLi, with x<<1. This work indicates the potential offered by this technique for mapping lithium in materials.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1170-1179
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Magnesium and Alloys
Volume	11
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jma.2023.03.011
Publication status	Published - Apr 2023

Keywords

Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS)
High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM)
Lithium mapping
Magnesium alloys

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10.1016/j.jma.2023.03.011Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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title = "Lithium mapping in a Mg-9Li-4Al-1Zn alloy using electron energy-loss spectroscopy",

abstract = "Magnesium-lithium alloys with high lithium content have been attracting significant attention because of their low density, high formability and corrosion resistance. These properties are dependent on the distribution of lithium, which is difficult to map in the presence of magnesium. In this work, a ratio spectrum-imaging method with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is demonstrated, which enables the mapping of lithium. In application to LAZ941 (Mg-9Li-4Al-1 Zn in wt.%), this technique revealed that a key precipitate in the microstructure, previously thought by some to be Mg17Al12, is in fact rich in lithium. This result was corroborated with a structural investigation by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), showing this phase to be Al1-xZnxLi, with x<<1. This work indicates the potential offered by this technique for mapping lithium in materials.",

keywords = "Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), Lithium mapping, Magnesium alloys",

author = "Yu Zhang and Laure Bourgeois and Yu Chen and Zhuoran Zeng and Nick Birbilis and Nakashima, {Philip N.H.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank A/Prof. Matthew Weyland and Dr Tim Williams for their expert advice. The authors would also like to thank the Australian Research Council (ARC) for funding this work [Grant no. DP190103592 ]. The authors acknowledge the use of instruments and scientific and technical assistance at the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, a Node of Microscopy Australia. This research used equipment funded by ARC grants LE110100223 (F20), LE0454166 (Titan) and LE170100118 (Spectra-φ). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023",

year = "2023",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1016/j.jma.2023.03.011",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

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journal = "Journal of Magnesium and Alloys",

issn = "2213-9567",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Lithium mapping in a Mg-9Li-4Al-1Zn alloy using electron energy-loss spectroscopy

AU - Zhang, Yu

AU - Bourgeois, Laure

AU - Chen, Yu

AU - Zeng, Zhuoran

AU - Birbilis, Nick

AU - Nakashima, Philip N.H.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank A/Prof. Matthew Weyland and Dr Tim Williams for their expert advice. The authors would also like to thank the Australian Research Council (ARC) for funding this work [Grant no. DP190103592 ]. The authors acknowledge the use of instruments and scientific and technical assistance at the Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, a Node of Microscopy Australia. This research used equipment funded by ARC grants LE110100223 (F20), LE0454166 (Titan) and LE170100118 (Spectra-φ). Publisher Copyright: © 2023

PY - 2023/4

Y1 - 2023/4

N2 - Magnesium-lithium alloys with high lithium content have been attracting significant attention because of their low density, high formability and corrosion resistance. These properties are dependent on the distribution of lithium, which is difficult to map in the presence of magnesium. In this work, a ratio spectrum-imaging method with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is demonstrated, which enables the mapping of lithium. In application to LAZ941 (Mg-9Li-4Al-1 Zn in wt.%), this technique revealed that a key precipitate in the microstructure, previously thought by some to be Mg17Al12, is in fact rich in lithium. This result was corroborated with a structural investigation by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), showing this phase to be Al1-xZnxLi, with x<<1. This work indicates the potential offered by this technique for mapping lithium in materials.

AB - Magnesium-lithium alloys with high lithium content have been attracting significant attention because of their low density, high formability and corrosion resistance. These properties are dependent on the distribution of lithium, which is difficult to map in the presence of magnesium. In this work, a ratio spectrum-imaging method with electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is demonstrated, which enables the mapping of lithium. In application to LAZ941 (Mg-9Li-4Al-1 Zn in wt.%), this technique revealed that a key precipitate in the microstructure, previously thought by some to be Mg17Al12, is in fact rich in lithium. This result was corroborated with a structural investigation by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), showing this phase to be Al1-xZnxLi, with x<<1. This work indicates the potential offered by this technique for mapping lithium in materials.

KW - Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS)

KW - High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM)

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KW - Magnesium alloys

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Lithium mapping in a Mg-9Li-4Al-1Zn alloy using electron energy-loss spectroscopy

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Keywords

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UltraTEM: To resolve the structure of matter in space, energy and time

Advanced in-situ electron microscope facility for research in alloys, nanomaterials, functional materials, magnetic materials and minerals

Centre for Electron Microscopy (MCEM)

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Lithium mapping in a Mg-9Li-4Al-1Zn alloy using electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

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Projects

UltraTEM: To resolve the structure of matter in space, energy and time

Advanced in-situ electron microscope facility for research in alloys, nanomaterials, functional materials, magnetic materials and minerals

Equipment

Centre for Electron Microscopy (MCEM)

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