Reconstruction of dislocations via Electron Channeling Contrast Tomography Article Swipe
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· 2025
· Open Access
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· OA: W4414988574
Three-dimensional characterization of dislocations is critical for understanding plastic deformation in crystalline materials but remains experimentally challenging. Transmission electron microscopy provides high-resolution 3D reconstructions of dislocations but is limited by small field of view and thin-foil requirements. Here, we present a proof-of-concept for reconstructing the 3D dislocation microstructure using electron channeling contrast imaging in a scanning electron microscope. Unlike previous scanning electron microscopy-based approaches relying on serial sectioning, which is time-consuming and remove the material under study, our method is non-destructive and preserves the sample intact. Two electron ECC (electron channeling contrast) micrographs of an undeformed single-crystal Ni specimen acquired at distinct tilt-angles were used to reconstruct six dislocations via stereomicroscopy. Burgers vectors were independently identified using the invisibility criterion. The reconstructed dislocation microstructure reveals clear glide behavior and instances of cross-slip.This method offers a simple, fast, and non-destructive path to 3D dislocation analyses in bulk materials using standard scanning electron microscopy equipment, extending tomography concepts beyond transmission electron microscopy to accessible scanning electron microscopy-based workflows.
