Spin-polarized scanning electron microscopy (spin SEM) is a method for observing magnetic-domain structures by detecting the spin polarization of secondary electrons. It has several unique abilities such as detection of full magnetization orientation and high-spatial-resolution measurement. Several spin-SEM experiments have demonstrated that it is a promising method for studying various types of magnetic materials and devices. This review paper presents several spin-SEM observations to demonstrate the capability and potential of spin SEM.

Teruo Kohashi

Magnetization Analysis by Spin-Polarized Scanning Electron Microscopy

Ferroelectric domain structure has been formed under the action of electron beam scanning in congruent lithium niobate single crystal covered by surface dielectric layer. The obtained types of the domain patterns have been considered as subsequent stages of domain structure evolution. The dependence on irradiated charge density of domain density, length, and period of domain rays and stripe domain width was used for characterization of the domain structure evolution. The threshold irradiated charge density necessary for the formation of solid stripe domain has been revealed. All obtained results have been discussed in terms of kinetic approach based on the analogy between domain structure evolution and first-order phase transition.

Evgeny Vlasov

Dmitry Chezganov

Maria Chuvakova

Vladimir Ya. Shur

The Ferroelectric Domain Structures Induced by Electron Beam Scanning in Lithium Niobate

Al-metal matrix composites (AMMCs) reinforced with diverse volume fraction of SiC nanoparticles were synthesized using microwave sintering process. The effects of the reinforcing SiC particles on physical, microstructure, mechanical, and electrical properties were studied. The phase, microstructural, and surface analyses of the composites were systematically conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and surface profilometer techniques, respectively. The microstructural examination revealed the homogeneous distribution of SiC particles in the Al matrix. Microhardness and compressive strength of nanocomposites were found to be increasing with the increasing volume fraction of SiC particles. Electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites decreases with increasing the SiC content.

M. A. Himyan

M. Penchal Reddy

F. Ubaid

R. A. Shakoor

A. M. A. Mohamed

Scanning Electron Microscopic Studies of Microwave Sintered Al-SiC Nanocomposites and Their Properties

This research work presents the microscopic analysis of pulse electrodeposited Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings using SEM and AFM techniques and their performance evaluation (mechanical and electrochemical) by employing nanoindentation and electrochemical methods. The Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings were developed by pulse electrodeposition. The nickel matrix was reinforced with various amounts of AlN nanoparticles (3, 6, and 9&#x2009;g/L) to develop Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings. The effect of reinforcement concentration on structure, surface morphology, and mechanical and anticorrosion properties was studied. SEM and AFM analyses indicate that Ni-AlN nanocomposite coatings have dense, homogenous, and well-defined pyramid structure containing uniformly distributed AlN particles. A decent improvement in the corrosion protection performance is also observed by the addition of AlN particles to the nickel matrix. Corrosion current was reduced from 2.15 to 1.29&#x2009;<i>&#x3bc;</i>A&#x2009;cm<sup>&#x2212;2</sup> by increasing the AlN particles concentration from 3 to 9&#x2009;g/L. It has been observed that the properties of Ni-AlN nanocomposite coating are sensitive to the concentration of AlN nanoparticles used as reinforcement.

Kamran Ali

Sivaprasad Narayana

Paul C. Okonkwo

Moinuddin M. Yusuf

Abdullah Alashraf

Ramazan Kahraman

Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Pulse Electrodeposited Ni-AlN Nanocomposite Coatings

<i>Objective</i>. To investigate the effect of different setting conditions on surface microhardness and setting properties of calcium silicate-based sealers.<i> Methods</i>. Three sealers, EndoSequence Bioceramic (BC; Brasseler USA, Savannah, GA, USA), Endoseal MTA (ES; Maruchi, Wonju, Korea), and Well-Root ST (WR; Vericom, Chuncheon, Korea), were compared. Specimens were exposed to either butyric acid (pH 5.4) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS [pH 7.4]) for 48 h and stored at 100% humidity for 12 days. The control specimens were stored at 100% humidity for 14 days. Surface microhardness was measured, topographic changes were observed, and phase analysis was performed using X-ray diffraction. Microhardness according to storage conditions was compared using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s multiple comparison tests (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M1" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-81" d="M600 480C600 590 528 650 384 650H143L137 622C222 614 225 607 210 531L130 127C113 41 106 36 23 28L17 0H294L300 28C204 36 195 42 212 127L243 284L314 263C327 263 339 263 352 264C465 271 600 337 600 480ZM508 481C508 351 402 304 329 304C289 304 265 311 250 317L295 559C302 594 310 606 323 611C335 616 350 619 367 619C455 619 508 573 508 481Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="15.655pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 15.655 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,25.885,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g></svg></span>).<i> Results</i>. The BC and ES sealers exhibited decreased microhardness when stored in acid or PBS compared with control (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M2" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-81"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-91"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="15.655pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 15.655 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,25.885,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g></svg></span>). In the WR group, acid exposure lowered microhardness of the specimens compared with control (<span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="19.289pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" id="M3" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.6359 19.289 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-81"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.658,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-91"/></g></svg><span class="irelop"></span><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="15.655pt" style="vertical-align:-0.6370001pt" height="9.2729pt" version="1.1" viewBox="22.8711838 -8.6359 15.655 9.2729"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.921,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,25.885,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,32.125,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g></svg></span>). Scanning electron microscopy revealed different topographies in specimens from all tested sealers exposed to acid or PBS.<i> Conclusion</i>. The surface microhardness of calcium silicate-based sealers was reduced by exposure to either acid or PBS. Acid solutions, however, had a more detrimental effect than PBS.

Dong-Kyu Yang

Sunil Kim

Jeong-Won Park

Euiseong Kim

Su-Jung Shin

Different Setting Conditions Affect Surface Characteristics and Microhardness of Calcium Silicate-Based Sealers

The Cr-Cu-N coatings with various Cu contents (0&#x2013;25.18 (&#xb1;0.17)&#x2009;at.&#x25;) were deposited on Si wafer and stainless steel (SUS 304) substrates in reactive Ar+N<sub>2</sub> gas mixture by a hybrid coating system combining pulsed DC and RF magnetron sputtering techniques. The influence of Cu content on the coating composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties was investigated. The microstructure of the coatings was significantly altered by the introduction of Cu. The deposited coatings exhibit solid solution structure with different compositions in all of the samples. Addition of Cu is intensively favored for preferred orientation growth along (200) direction by restricting in (111) direction. With increasing Cu content, the surface and cross-sectional morphology of coatings were changed from triangle cone-shaped, columnar feature to broccoli-like and compact glassy microstructure, respectively. The mechanical properties including the residual stress, nanohardness, and toughness of the coatings were explored on the basis of Cu content. The highest hardness was obtained at the Cu content of 1.49 (&#xb1;0.10)&#x2009;at.&#x25;.

Ji Cheng Ding

Teng Fei Zhang

Zhi Xin Wan

Hai Juan Mei

Myung Chang Kang

Qi Min Wang

Kwang Ho Kim

Influence of Cu Content on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cr-Cu-N Coatings

<i>Purpose</i>. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in the direct diagnosis of suspected onychomycosis with negative mycological test results.<i> Methods</i>. Outpatients diagnosed with suspected onychomycosis with negative mycological test results, including direct microscopic examination with 10&#x25; potassium hydroxide (KOH) and fungal culture, on 3 separate occasions were recruited. A small piece of infected nail was obtained for SEM examination.<i> Results</i>. Among the 48 suspected onychomycosis samples, SEM revealed that 18 (37.5&#x25;) were positive for fungal structures, including 10 (20.8&#x25;) cases of hyphae and 8 (16.7&#x25;) cases of yeast blastospores or budding.<i> Conclusion</i>. SEM represents an effective method to diagnose suspected onychomycosis when the traditional mycological methods were negative. Therefore, this technique could be used in clinical practice.

Xueping Yue

Aiping Wang

Qing Li

The Role of Scanning Electron Microscopy in the Direct Diagnosis of Onychomycosis

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<p><em>Scanning</em> publishes international and interdisciplinary research focused on scanning electron, scanning probe, and scanning optical microscopies, and their advancement and applications.</p>


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<p>Chief Editor, Guosong Wu is a Professor at the College of Mechanics &amp; Materials in Hohai University.&nbsp;His research interests include surface engineering, corrosion science, metals and plasma related technologies.</p>


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Scanning publishes international and interdisciplinary research focused on scanning electron, scanning probe, and scanning optical microscopies, and their advancement and applications.

Scanning