title: FIB preparation of a NiO Wedge-Lamella and STEM X-ray microanalysis for the determination of the experimental k(O-Ni) Cliff-Lorimer coefficient.
abstract: A method for the fabrication of a wedge-shaped thin NiO lamella by focused ion beam is reported. The starting sample is an oxidized bulk single crystalline, <100> oriented, Ni commercial standard. The lamella is employed for the determination, by analytical electron microscopy at 200 kV of the experimental k(O-Ni) Cliff-Lorimer (G. Cliff & G.W. Lorimer, J Microsc 103, 203-207, 1975) coefficient, according to the extrapolation method by Van Cappellen (E. Van Cappellen, Microsc Microstruct Microanal 1, 1-22, 1990). The result thus obtained is compared to the theoretical k(O-Ni) values either implemented into the commercial software for X-ray microanalysis quantification of the scanning transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry equipment or calculated by the Monte Carlo method. Significant differences among the three values are found. This confirms that for a reliable quantification of binary alloys containing light elements, the choice of the Cliff-Lorimer coefficients is crucial and experimental values are recommended.
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM Institute, Via P.Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy. armigliato@bo.imm.cnr.it
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Armigliato
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frabboni
authors.forename: Gian Carlo
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gazzadi
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosa