The influence of spatial and temporal averaging on interpretation of HRTEM images of solid–liquid interfaces

The effects of spatial and temporal averaging on high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images and associated intensity profiles of a solid–liquid Al interface were investigated using atomic coordinates obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. It was found that intensity profiles obtained by spatial averaging across the solid–liquid interface capture the variation in structural features nearly as well as time-averaged intensity profiles. This suggests that adequate spatial averaging of a single HRTEM image can be used to study the contrast from interfaces, and thereby, the structural details, without the need for more time-consuming, computer-intensive time averaged analyses. The limitations of this method are also discussed.

► Solid–liquid interface of Al was simulated using molecular dynamics calculations.
► HRTEM images were computed for the interface using multi-slice methods.
► Effects of spatial and temporal averaging on HRTEM images and profiles were studied.
► Spatial averaging of intensity profile is nearly as reliable as time averaging.
► Limitations of this approach to study the solid–liquid interface are discussed.