A Gas-Phase Reaction Cell for Modern Atom Probe Systems

In this work, we demonstrate a new system for the examination of gas interactions with surfaces via atom probe tomography. This system provides capability of examining the surface and subsurface interactions of gases with a wide range of specimens, as well as a selection of input gas types. This system has been primarily developed to aid the investigation of hydrogen interactions with metallurgical samples, to better understand the phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement. In its current form, it is able to operate at pressures from 10−6 to 1000 mbar (abs), can use a variety of gasses, and is equipped with heating and cryogenic quenching capabilities. We use this system to examine the interaction of hydrogen with Pd, as well as the interaction of water vapor and oxygen in Mg samples.