Obtaining an Electron Energy - Loss Spectra Fingerprint for the Χ and Κ Phases of Aluminum Oxide

OBTAINING AN ELECTRON ENERGY-LOSS SPECTRA FINGERPRINT FOR THE χ AND κ PHASES OF ALUMINUM OXIDE Michael Tanner Department of Physics and Astronomy Bachelor of Science The crystal structure of Al2O3 is found naturally in at least seven different atomic arrangements or phases. By heating gibbsite, an aluminum hydroxide, to different temperatures, the χ, κ, and α phases were obtained. The phase of each was confirmed by diffraction analysis. The samples were then investigated using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in order to obtain an EELS spectra fingerprint for each phase. An EELS fingerprint was obtained for each phase, allowing phase identification in nanometer scale regions that cannot be measured by other means.