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Luminescence lifetimes are an attractive analytical method for detection due to its high sensitivity and stability. Iridium probes exhibit luminescence with long excited-state lifetimes, which are sensitive to the local environment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is listed as a chemical of high concern regarding its toxicity and is classified as a “forever chemical”. In addition to strict limits on the presence of PFOA in drinking water, environmental contamination from industrial effluent or chemical spills requires rapid, simple, accurate, and cost-effective analysis in order to aid containment. Herein, we report the fabrication and function of a novel and facile luminescence sensor for PFOA based on iridium modified on gold surfaces. These surfaces were modified with lipophilic iridium complexes bearing alkyl chains, namely, IrC6 and IrC12, and Zonyl-FSA surfactant. Upon addition of PFOA, the modified surfaces IrC6-FSA@Au and IrC12-FSA @Au show the largest change in the red luminescence signal with changes in the luminescence lifetime that allow monitoring of PFOA concentrations in aqueous solutions. The platform was tested for the measurement of PFOA in aqueous samples spiked with known concentrations of PFOA and demonstrated the capacity to determine PFOA at concentrations >100 μg/L (240 nM).
Since the original report in 2004 by Novoselov and Geim, Graphene gained incredible attention due to its fascinating properties. In the past 20 years, the synthesis and functionalization of graphene has evolved significantly[3]. Different synthesis techniques were developed which led to other graphenerelated materials such as graphene oxide (GO) or elemental-doped graphene. Further chemical functionalization can enhance but also alter or reduce specific properties of the graphene. To reveal the nature of these materials a proper physico‑chemical characterization with different analytical techniques is crucial.
Single-layer GO flakes kindly provided by Graphenea (Spain) were prepared for systematic image analysis. These flakes were disposed on an alignment-marked SiO2 substrate and correlatively imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Raman spectroscopy. The high lateral resolution and/ or extreme surface sensitivity of the mentioned
techniques is necessary to explore monolayers. The ToF-SIMS images match well with the SEM and AFM images and provide information about the chemistry. With 2D Raman spectroscopy it is possible to differentiate between the number of stacked single-layer flakes. This is visualized in a 3D image (Figure b). Well-defined GO flakes could be used as a reference material for imaging of graphene-like structures but also of other types of 2D materials.
In addition to these monolayer GO flakes, commercial graphene-containing inks (Haydale) with a more complex morphology were also correlatively imaged. ToF-SIMS and SEM images were merged to identify the origin of different chemical fragments. The findings correlate closely with the expectation that the specific functionalizations (with fluorine and nitrogen as marker elements) are present only on the graphene flakes as presumed from the SEM images. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) supports these results, yet with a much lower sensitivity compared to ToF-SIMS.
Since the original report in 2004 by Novoselov and Geim, Graphene gained incredible attention due to its fascinating properties. In the past 20 years, the synthesis and functionalization of graphene has evolved significantly[3]. Different synthesis techniques were developed which led to other graphenerelated materials such as graphene oxide (GO) or elemental-doped graphene. Further chemical functionalization can enhance but also alter or reduce specific properties of the graphene. To reveal the nature of these materials a proper physico‑chemical characterization with different analytical techniques is crucial.
Single-layer GO flakes kindly provided by Graphenea (Spain) were prepared for systematic image analysis. These flakes were disposed on an alignment-marked SiO2 substrate and correlatively imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Raman spectroscopy. The high lateral resolution and/ or extreme surface sensitivity of the mentioned
techniques is necessary to explore monolayers. The ToF-SIMS images match well with the SEM and AFM images and provide information about the chemistry. With 2D Raman spectroscopy it is possible to differentiate between the number of stacked single-layer flakes. This is visualized in a 3D image (Figure b). Well-defined GO flakes could be used as a reference material for imaging of graphene-like structures but also of other types of 2D materials.
In addition to these monolayer GO flakes, commercial graphene-containing inks (Haydale) with a more complex morphology were also correlatively imaged. ToF-SIMS and SEM images were merged to identify the origin of different chemical fragments. The findings correlate closely with the expectation that the specific functionalizations (with fluorine and nitrogen as marker elements) are present only on the graphene flakes as presumed from the SEM images. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) supports these results, yet with a much lower sensitivity compared to ToF-SIMS.
Electrocatalysis is and will continue to play a central role in the development of a new and modern sustainable economy, especially for chemicals and fuels. The storage of excess electrical energy into chemical energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is a feasible solution in this economic sector. A major drawback of electrical energy lies in the storage. Therefore, hydrogen is discussed as promising alternative. Fortunately, this issue can be effectively addressed through the implementation of chemical storage mechanisms. Due to their abundance on Earth and inherent stability in alkaline solutions, transition-metal oxides have become one of several viable alternatives to conventional noble-metal catalysts. Since FeNi oxide is one of the most active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis, it has been the subject of extensive research.
A series of different types of FeNi oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with atomic ratios covering a broad range, and various sizes with specific stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric iron and nickel ratios was synthesized and characterized by the combination of surface analysis techniques, such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed the coexistence of mixed and unmixed iron and nickel NPs with comparable sizes in the range of 30–40 nm across all ratios. The synthesis technique displayed control over the iron-nickel ratio, as evidenced by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) data. The presence of magnetite (Fe3O4) was detected in all samples investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the existence of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) was shown in the Fe2Ni by XRD analysis. For the cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, the NPs were deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes using Nafion® as an ionomer, and 1 M KOH was employed as the electrolyte. Subsequently, the NPs/Nafion® electrode was transferred into the ToF-SIMS chamber to allow surface analysis and depth profiling.
The ToF-SIMS analysis revealed distinct peaks corresponding to Fe, Ni, and other peaks associated with Nafion®, whereas a straightforward correlation between the Ni.Fe ratio and the SIMS peak pattern is not possible.
The catalytic activity towards OER was evaluated through CV measurements, where the Fe2Ni3 ratio exhibited the most favorable performance, displaying a lower overpotential.
Electrocatalysis is and will continue to play a central role in the development of a new and modern sustainable economy, especially for chemicals and fuels. The storage of excess electrical energy into chemical energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is a feasible solution in this economic sector. A major drawback of electrical energy lies in the storage. Therefore, hydrogen is discussed as promising alternative. Fortunately, this issue can be effectively addressed through the implementation of chemical storage mechanisms. Due to their abundance on Earth and inherent stability in alkaline solutions, transition-metal oxides have become one of several viable alternatives to conventional noble-metal catalysts. Since FeNi oxide is one of the most active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis, it has been the subject of extensive research.
A series of different types of FeNi oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with atomic ratios covering a broad range, and various sizes with specific stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric iron and nickel ratios was synthesized and characterized by the combination of surface analysis techniques, such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed the coexistence of mixed and unmixed iron and nickel NPs with comparable sizes in the range of 30–40 nm across all ratios. The synthesis technique displayed control over the iron-nickel ratio, as evidenced by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) data. The presence of magnetite (Fe3O4) was detected in all samples investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Furthermore, the existence of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) was shown in the Fe2Ni by XRD analysis. For the cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, the NPs were deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes using Nafion® as an ionomer, and 1 M KOH was employed as the electrolyte. Subsequently, the NPs/Nafion® electrode was transferred into the ToF-SIMS chamber to allow surface analysis and depth profiling.
The ToF-SIMS analysis revealed distinct peaks corresponding to Fe, Ni, and other peaks associated with Nafion®, whereas a straightforward correlation between the Ni.Fe ratio and the SIMS peak pattern is not possible.
The catalytic activity towards OER was evaluated through CV measurements, where the Fe2Ni3 ratio exhibited the most favorable performance, displaying a lower overpotential.
The modern economy is dependent on catalysis, which is main efforts to create environmentally and energy-friendly technologies. The storage of excess electrical energy into chemical energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is a feasible solution to this energy demand. Due to their abundance on Earth and inherent stability in alkaline solution, transition-metal oxides have become one of several viable alternatives to noble-metal catalysts. Since NiFe oxide is one of the most active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis, it has been the subject of extensive research.
In this work, NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) of various sizes, specific stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric Fe:Ni surface ratios are synthesized. we will use a combination of ultra-high vacuum surface analysis techniques, such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to obtain the detailed characterization of the OER electrocatalysts top-surface layer, which is required to identify the rate-limiting step intermediates, and surface morphological changes at the electrolyte/catalyst.
Due to its large strength-to-weight ratio and excellent biocompatibility, titanium materials are of paramount importance for medical applications, e.g. as implant material for protheses. In this work, the evolution of various types of laser-induced micro- and nanostructures emerging on titanium or titanium alloys upon irradiation by near-infrared ultrashort laser pulses (925 fs, 1030 nm) in air environment is studied for various laser fluence levels, effective number of pulses and at different pulse repetition rates (1 – 400 kHz). The morphologies of the processed surfaces were systematically characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (OM, SEM). Complementary white-light interference microscopy (WLIM) revealed the corresponding surface topographies. Chemical and structural changes were analysed through depth-profiling time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The results point towards a remarkable influence of the laser processing parameters on the surface topography, while simultaneously altering the near-surface chemistry via laser-induced oxidation effects. Consequences for medical applications are outlined.
Corrosion is a very expensive and serious problem in the different industry sectors, eg. Petroleum-, On- and off-shore, infrastructure. It is estimated that 20% of all corrosion damage is caused by microorganisms or microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Several microorganisms are known to cause corrosion, including sulfate-reducing bacteria, nitrate-reducing bacteria, methanogens etc. For several years, methanogens were regarded as a mild corroder (~0.065 mm/yr), largely due to a lack of detailed investigation on the corrosion mechanism under real-environment simulated conditions. Resulting in the common belief that siderite, a non-conductive compound, is the sole corrosion product (CP) of methanogen-induced MIC (Mi-MIC).
To simulate natural environmental conditions, we developed and introduced the multiport flow column system (MFC), a multi-sectional corrosion flow-cell. Using the MFC, we obtained ten times higher corrosion rates than previously reported. With a combination of several analytical techniques, such as ToF-SIMS, SEM-EDS and FIB-SEM, we found strong indication that siderite is not the sole corrosion product of Mi-MIC. The corrosion layers contained phosphorus, oxygen, magnesium, calcium and iron. The differences in the CP between static and dynamic environments demonstrated the impact of testing procedures on the corrosive potential of methanogens. To further verify and deepen our understanding of Mi-MIC, we are currently studying the influence of additional environmental parameters (e.g. pH, salinity, flow rate) on Mi-MIC.
Overall, results of this study will expand the current understanding of MIC from both analytical and mechanistic points of view, thus aiding the development of different mitigation strategies for various industry sectors.
Low-cost, high-efficient catalysts for water splitting can be potentially fulfilled by developing earthabundant metal oxides. In this work, surface galvanic formation of Co-OH on K0.45MnO2 (KMO) was achieved via the redox reaction of hydrated Co2+ with crystalline Mn4+. The synthesis method takes place at ambient temperature without using any surfactant agent or organic solvent, providing a clean, green route for the design of highly efficient catalysts. The redox reaction resulted in the formation of ultrathin Co-OH nanoflakes with high electrochemical surface area. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the changes in the oxidation state of the bulk and
surface species on the Co-OH nanoflakes supported on the KMO. The effect of the anions, such as chloride, nitrate and sulfate, on the preparation of the catalyst was evaluated by electrochemical and spectrochemical means. XPS and Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) analysis demonstrated that the layer of CoOxHy deposited on the KMO and its electronic structure strongly depend on the anion of the precursor used during the synthesis of the catalyst. In particular, it was found that Cl- favors the formation of Co-OH, changing the rate-determining step of the reaction, which enhances the catalytic activity towards the OER, producing the most active OER catalyst in alkaline media.
Hydrocarbons fuel our economy. Furthermore, intermediate goods and consumer products are often hydrocarbon-based. Beside all the progress they made possible, hydrogen-containing substances can have severe detrimental effects on materials exposed to them. Hydrogen-assisted failure of iron alloys has been recognised more than a century ago. The present study aims to providing further insight into the degradation of the austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L (EN 1.4307) exposed to hydrogen. To this end, samples were electrochemically charged with the hydrogen isotope deuterium (2H, D) and analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). It was found that deuterium caused a phase transformation from the original γ austenite into ε- and α’-martensite. Despite their low solubility for hydrogen, viz. deuterium, the newly formed phases showed high deuterium concentration which was attributed to the increased density of traps. Information about the behaviour of deuterium in the material subjected to external mechanical load was gathered. A four-point-bending device was developed for this purpose. This allowed to analyse in-situ pre-charged samples in the ToF-SIMS during the application of external mechanical load. The results indicate a movement of deuterium towards the regions of highest stress.
The damaging impact of hydrogen on the austenitic stainless steel AISI 304 L was analysed.
To this aim, samples were charged electrochemically with the hydrogen isotope deuterium (2H, D) and examined with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The fusion of the obtained chemical and structural information revealed local enrichment of deuterium in austenite, transformation into martensite, crack formation and severe roughening of the specimen surface. The results indicated that martensite was not only formed during charging but also during Desorption and ToF-SIMS examinations. Furthermore, cross-sections of deuterium-charged samples revealed that in preferred deformation bands a g/ε/a 0 evolution is taking place.
By means of microscopic analyses and carrier gas hot extraction (CGHE), it was found that the use of NaAsO2 as recombination poison decreased the uptake of hydrogen significantly and resulted in severe precipitation on the specimen surfaces. This is in contrast to the popular presumption that NaAsO2 enhances the uptake of hydrogen (and
deuterium) during electrochemical charging by hampering its recombination from Atoms to molecules.
During the energy transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, the use of hydrogen as fuel and energy storage can play a key role. This presents new challenges to industry and the scientific community alike. The storage and transport of hydrogen, which is nowadays mainly realized by austenitic stainless steels, remains problematic, which is due to the degradation of mechanical properties and the possibility of phase transformation by hydrogen diffusion and accumulation. The development of materials and technologies requires a fundamental understanding of these degradation processes. Therefore, studying the behavior of hydrogen in austenitic steel contributes to an understanding of the damage processes, which is crucial for both life assessment and safe use of components in industry and transportation. As one of the few tools that is capable of depicting the distribution of hydrogen in steels, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was conducted after electrochemical charging. To obtain further information about the structural composition and cracking behavior, electron-backscattered diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were performed. Gathered data of chemical composition and topography were treated employing data fusion, thus creating a comprehensive portrait of hydrogen-induced effects in the austenite grade AISI 304L. Specimens were electrochemically charged with deuterium instead of hydrogen. This arises from the difficulties to distinguish between artificially charged hydrogen and traces existing in the material or the rest gas in the analysis chamber. Similar diffusion and permeation behavior, as well as solubility, allow nonetheless to draw conclusions from the experiments.
In the presented research, the high potential and abilities of secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) to detect and locally map the hydrogen distribution in two types of duplex stainless steels are shown. The research validates certain proposed mechanisms by combining ToF-SIMS with high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and electron-backscattered diffraction. The combination of data from several techniques on the same region was conducted in this field for the first time by applying data treatment of the ToF-SIMS raw data and data fusion approach. This powerful combination of methods allows reviewing of the occurring processes related to hydrogen assisted cracking. The step beyond the state of the art in this field was gained here by developing permeation and mechanical loading experiments within the ToF-SIMS during chemometric imaging of the hydrogen distribution in the microstructure. The research presents the necessary correlation between the hydrogen distribution and the resulted structural changes, the diffusion behavior in a duplex microstructure and stress induced diffusion of hydrogen by applying external load at the microscale.
Due to its low mass and high diffusivity in presence of compositional, thermal and mechanical gradients, hydrogen within a metallic microstructure can result in severe loss in ductility even at low concentrations and might lead eventually to a catastrophic and unpredictable failure of structural components during service. In this context, hydrogen mapping at the microscale is still considered among the most important challenges on the pathway towards a better understanding of the hydrogen transport and assisted cracking phenomena in metals, specifically in structural components, e.g. steels.
Among the very few available techniques to localize hydrogen at the microscale, Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was proven to be a reliable tool. Based on the assumption that deuterium influence the microstructure similarly to hydrogen, in the following contribution ToF-SIMS was applied as the main technique to detect and locally map the deuterium distribution in several alloys: lean 2101 and standard 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS), AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel and titanium 6Al-4V alloy. These alloys were selected as case studies in this work due to the wide use of them in many applications and environments which frequently provide critical conditions for hydrogen absorption and assisted degradation.
The innovative design of in-situ and ex-situ experiments enabled us to elucidate the permeation, transport and trapping of deuterium in the microstructure in sub-micron resolution for the first time. In addition to the novel experimental setups, further progress was gained by applying computational multivariate data analysis (MVA) on the raw data and data fusion with high resolution structural characterization methods (scanning electron microscopy and electron back-scattered diffraction – SEM/EBSD). This combination allowed us to correlate the deuterium distribution and the influence on the microstructure.
Among the very few techniques to localize hydrogen (H) at the microscale in steels, Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was proven to be a reliable tool. The necessity to detect hydrogen stems from its deleterious effects in metals, that are often used as structural components and to obtain better understanding of the underlying metallurgical mechanisms of hydrogen embrittlement (HE) which are still unclear.
Austenitic stainless steels are nowadays commonly used in a wide variety of application, from hydrogen transport and storage facilities to petrochemical and offshore applications where they are exposed to aggressive environments and therefore prone to HE. One of the greater risks in the austenitic class is the embrittlement of the material due to the instability of the γ austenite and its transformation into a brittle α martensitic phase. This transformation takes place due to the local stresses that are induced by the uptake of hydrogen during service. Nonetheless, it was shown that this transformation can occur as an artefact during SIMS analysis itself where Cs-sputtering is necessary not only to remove surface contaminations but mainly to enhance H/D secondary ion yield.
In the following contribution we show the influence of different sputtering conditions on AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel in order to distinguish the artefact from the hydrogen induced transformation. The material was charged electrochemically in a deuterium based electrolyte. Deuterium (D) must be in these experiments as a replacement for hydrogen which cannot be used because adsorbed hydrogen superimposes hydrogen originating from charging the sample in the SIMS images. ToF-SIMS analyses were conducted by ToF SIMS IV (IONTOF GmbH, Münster, Germany). The experiments were carried out on deuterium charged and non-charged samples. The structural characterization was carried out by SEM and EBSD examinations before and after charging, both with a Leo Gemeni 1530VP field-emission scanning electron microscope and a Zeiss Supra 40 instrument (Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, Oberkochen, Germany). The results showed that the use of 1keV Cs+ beam induces stacking faults while higher sputter beam energies results in γ→α transformation.
Duplex (DSS) and austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are frequently used in many energy related applications. The duplex grade is considered to have outstanding mechanical properties as well as good corrosion resistance. The austenitic phase combines high ductility, even at low temperatures, with sufficient strength, and therefore such materials are applied in storage and transport of high-pressure hydrogen. During service in acidic environments large amounts of hydrogen can ingress into the microstructure and induce many changes in the mechanical properties of the steel. Embrittlement of steels by hydrogen remains unclear even though this topic has been intensively studied for several decades. The reason for that lies in the inability to validate the proposed theoretical models in the sub-micron scale. Among the very few available methods nowadays, Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) enables a highly accurate mapping of hydrogen in the microstructure in a spatial resolution below 100 nm. In the present work ToF-SIMS was used as a main tool in order to investigate the effect of deuterium on a duplex microstructure of lean and standard DSSs during and after the electrochemical charging process. Electrochemical charging simulates the service of a component in acidic environments under conditions of cathodic protection that are commonly applied to prevent corrosion reactions. ToF-SIMS after multivariate data analysis (MVA) was combined with high resolution topographic images and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) data to characterize the structural changes. It was observed that the ferritic phase was affected almost identical in all steels whereas in the austenitic phase significant differences were obtained in the lean duplex in comparison to the standard DSS. The obtained results have been compared to similar investigations on a AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel. The advantage of the combined techniques is reflected by the ability to correlate the hydrogen distribution in the microstructure and the resulted phase transformation.
The reduction of harmful emissions to the environment is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. To achieve this goal, it is inevitable to shift from using fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Within this transition, hydrogen can play a key role serving as fuel in transportation and as means for energy storage.
The storage and transport of hydrogen using austenitic stainless steels as the infrastructure, as well as the use of these grades in hydrogen containing aggressive environments, remains problematic. The degradation of the mechanical properties and the possibility of phase transformation by ingress and accumulation of hydrogen are the main drawbacks. Advanced studies of the behaviour of hydrogen in austenite is necessary to fully understand the occurring damage processes. This knowledge is crucial for the safe use of components in industry and transportation facilities of hydrogen.
A powerful tool for depicting the distribution of hydrogen in steels, with high accuracy and resolution, is time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). We here present a comprehensive research on the hydrogen degradation processes in AISI 304L based on electrochemical charging and subsequent ToF-SIMS experiments. To obtain furthermore information about the structural composition and cracking behaviour, electron-backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed afterwards. All the gathered data was treated employing data fusion, thus creating a thorough portrait of hydrogen diffusion and its damaging effects in AISI 304L.
Specimens were charged with deuterium instead of hydrogen. This necessity stems from the difficulty to separate between artificially charged hydrogen and traces existing in the material or adsorbed from the rest gas in the analysis chamber. Similar diffusion and permeation behaviour, as well as solubility, allow nonetheless to draw onclusions from the experiments.
This paper describes austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steels, SAF 2205, in the presence of hydrogen. The duplex stainless steels (DSS) properties include excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking, high strength and good weldability. Those steels are preferably used in industries combining hydrogen and loads. Hydrogen location in addition to hydrogen binding energy with the steel's defects are of great importance for the analysis of hydrogen embrittlement model in that steel. It is known from previously published works that the susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement will depend on the competition between reversible and irreversible traps; meaning a direct relation to the hydrogen's state and position in the steel. In this work, we examine the local hydrogen concentration, trapping and distribution by two modern and advanced techniques: thermal desorption spectrometry (TDS) and we support it by time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometer (ToF-SIMS). In this paper, we support and give for the first time new insights and better understanding to the hydrogen embrittlement mechanism in SAF 2205. The trapping energies levels were calculated using TDS and Lee and Lee's model. This model revealed reversible in addition to irreversible trapping sites. Also the trapping controlling mechanism was found to be a combination of detrapping controlled mechanism and diffusion controlled mechanism. The use of ToF-SIMS for local imaging the distribution of hydrogen species supports the discussion of the different hydrogen traps in this type of steel. The hydrogen embrittlemet phenomenon in SAF 2205 will be discussed in details in that paper.
The effect of electrochemical charging of hydrogen on the structure of a lean duplex stainless steel LDX 2101® (EN 1.4162, UNS S32101) was examined by both Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and electron back-scatter diffraction. The goal is to correlate hydrogen concentration and induced structural changes. Chemical and structural characterizations were done for the same region at the sample's surface with sub-micron spatial resolution. Regions of interest were varying in size between 50 × 50 μm and 100 × 100 μm. The results show a phase transformation of austenite to mainly a defect-rich BCC and scarcely a HCP phase. The phase transformation occurred in deuterium rich regions in the austenite.
In the course of the energy transformation from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, the use of hydrogen as fuel and energy storage can play a key role. This presents new challenges to industry and scientific community alike.
The storage and transport of hydrogen, which is nowadays mainly realised by austenitic stainless steels, remains problematic. That is due to the degradation of mechanical properties and the possibility of phase transformation by hydrogen diffusion and accumulation. Development of materials and technologies requires a fundamental understanding of these degradation processes. Therefore, studying the behaviour of hydrogen in austenitic steel contributes to an understanding of the damage processes which is crucial for both life assessment and safe use of components in industry and transportation.
As one of the few tools that is capable of depicting the distribution of hydrogen in steels, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was conducted after electrochemical charging. To obtain furthermore information about the structural composition and cracking behaviour, electron-backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. Gathered data of chemical composition and topography was treated employing data fusion, thus creating a comprehensive portrait of hydrogen-induced effects in the austenite grade AISI 304L.
Specimens were electrochemically charged with deuterium instead of hydrogen. This arises from the difficulties to distinguish between artificially charged hydrogen and traces existing in the material or the rest gas in the analysis chamber. Similar diffusion and permeation behaviour, as well as solubility, allow nonetheless to draw conclusions from the experiments.
The use of duplex stainless steels (DSS) in energy related applications is well known. Nowadays, DSSs become more favorable than austenitic steels due to the outstanding mechanical properties, the good corrosion resistance and the lower nickel content.However, the use of the duplex grade in acidic environments such as seawater can lead to a severe degradation in the structural integrity of the steel by hydrogen-induced/assisted cracking mechanisms, which can eventually result in premature failure. Hydrogen assisted degradation and cracking of steels remains unclear even though this topic is intensively studied for more than a century. The main gap lies in the validation of the proposed theoretical models at the sub-micron scale. Industrial and the research communities define a need for an accurate method by which it is possible to image the distribution of hydrogen in the microstructure. Among the very few available methods nowadays, Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) provides precise mapping of hydrogen in the microstructure. Moreover, the powerful combination of ToF-SIMS with multivariate data analysis (MVA), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) for providing a the structural information and the use of data fusion techniques can contribute to a better understanding of the hydrogen induced degradation processes in the material.
In the present work two types of duplex grades were chosen as a case study (standard and lean DSS). The duplex class, consist of equivalent amounts of ferrite and austenite, was investigated by ToF-SIMS and EBSD during and after electrochemical deuterium charging in order to simulate the service of a component in acidic environments. Deuterium is known to act on the steel similarly to hydrogen and therefore was used as a tracer for hydrogen. The results show that the ferrite was affected almost identical in both steels whereas in the austenitic phase significant differences were observed in the lean duplex in comparison to the standard duplex. The advantage of the combined techniques is reflected by the ability to correlate the hydrogen distribution in the microstructure to the resulted structural changes.
High resolution ToF-SIMS imaging of deuterium permeation and cracking in duplex stainless steels
(2017)
Fundamental understanding and elucidation of hydrogen assisted degradation and trapping mechanisms is dependent on sufficient imaging techniques for respective hydrogen interactions, in particular with multi-phase metallic microstructures. The present work shows the progress in elucidating the deuterium behavior in austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steels under the consideration that deuterium behaves in many ways similarly to hydrogen. A novel combination of deuterium permeation and in-situ Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging technique is compared with post charging ToF-SIMS imaging experiments. As a step beyond state-of-the-art, integration of chemo-metric and high resolution structural characterization techniques with computational multivariate data analysis (MVA) and data fusion is presented.
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy are well-acknowledged tools in materials characterization. The ability to map chemical species on the surface of an investigated sample with often low mass detection limits makes ToF-SIMS an essential tool in fields where many question marks concerning Degradation processes and damage mechanisms exist. The aim of this paper is to describe the power of data fusion of ToF-SIMS and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy results employing computational methods for multivariate data Analysis such as principal component analysis. As a case study the investigation of hydrogen distribution in an artificially charged Duplex stainless steel microstructure is presented aiming on a better understanding of hydrogen embrittlement.
Deuterium permeation and cracking in duplex steels as viewed by ToF-SIMS and HR-SEM with data fusion
(2016)
Better understanding of hydrogen assisted degradation and trapping mecha-nisms requires sufficient imaging techniques for respective hydrogen-microstructure interaction studies, in particular with multi-phase metallic micro-structures [1]. The present work is focusing on the elucidation of deuterium be-havior in two austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steels (DSS) under the assumption that deuterium behaves in many ways similarly to hydrogen [2]. For case studies standard 2205 and lean 2101 DSSs were chosen due to the extensive use of these steels in industry [3]. The analyses were conducted by using a novel in-situ permeation and Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging technique or by ex-situ ToF-SIMS imaging following electrochemical charging experiments. Another pioneering procedure was data fusion (including chemometry) of results of powerful laterally resolved chemical analysis and high resolution structural characterization techniques .
Results for the ex-situ observations showed a different influence of deuterium loading on the two steel grades as well as different damage mechanisms in each phase. Formation of sub-surface blisters between the ferrite and austenite were obtained in both the standard and the lean DSS. In both steels, an increased deuterium concentration was observed around deformed regions such as cracks, confirming that they originate from the presence of deuterium [4]. The formation of parallel cracks was obtained only in the austenite within the standard duplex whereas in the lean duplex the highest intensity of deuterium was obtained in the austenite along the ferrite-austenite interphase.
In comparison, application of the novel in-situ permeation technique enabled to register and record the deuterium permeation through the material and the respective saturation sequence of the two phases as well as the interfaces. Faster diffusion of the deuterium was observed in the ferrite and a direct proof for deuterium enrichment at the austenite-ferrite interface has been given [1]. The integration of the specified techniques gives a better insight into the processes leading to hydrogen induced failure. These two experimental techniques provide very valuable tools for elucidation of respective metallurgical failure mechanisms that can be used for the validation of respective numerical models for hydrogen assisted cracking (HAC).
In the present work, the influence of deuterium on the microstructure of a duplex stainless steel type EN 1.4462 has been characterized by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB), electron back scattered diffraction(EBSD) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) investigations. Characterization has been carried out before and after electrochemical charging with deuterium which has been used as a tracer, due to its similar behavior to hydrogen in the steel microstructure. In a first approach, the distribution of the deuterium occurring at temperatures above 58 °C has been visualized. Further it turned out that sub-surface micro blisters are formed in the ferrite-austenite interface, followed by the formation of needle shaped plates and subsequent cracking at the ferrite surface. In the austenite phase, parallel cracking alongside twins and hexagonal close packed (martensitic) regions has been observed. In both phases and even in the apparent interface, cracking has been associated with high deuterium concentrations, as compared to the surrounding undamaged microstructure. Sub-surface blistering in the ferrite has to be attributed to the accumulation and recombination of deuterium at the ferrite-austenite interface underneath the respective ferrite grains and after fast diffusing through this phase. Generally, the present application of chemometric imaging and structural analyses allows characterization of hydrogen assisted degradation at a sub-micron lateral resolution.