Tm3030 microscope

When imaging MNs using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), MNs were mounted onto an aluminium stub and observed under a TM3030 microscope (Hitachi Ltd, Japan). Micrographs of MN structures were obtained and the surface morphology and height/width of individual needles were examined/measured.

EDS measurements were carried out with an environmental scanning electron microscope model FEI XL30 ESEM with an LaB6 cathode attached to an energy dispersive X-ray electron sample analyzer, model EDAX Sapphire.
The structures of the Ti–Ta alloys were investigated by high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). All determinations were performed in air with a Hitachi TM3030 microscope that had been transversely calibrated by imaging atomically accurate oriented pyrolytic graphite. The tips were obtained by chopping a 0.20 mm Pt0.8Ir0.2 wire. The data were acquired in constant current operation with specific tunneling currents of 0.13–0.3 nA and a specimen polarization of 0.4–1.0 V. No tip-induced shifts were noted.
X-ray diffraction (XRD) determinations were made using an Empyrean diffractometer (Malvern-Panalytical). The device worked with a Cu Kα anode (1.5406 Å) in the range of 2θ = 0–64° with a step size of 0.04° at a power of 45 kV and 40 mA in Bragg–Brentano geometry. The samples have been rotated while collecting data in order to achieve better data capture. The obtained patterns were simulated in order to determine the presence of the crystalline phase, the lattice parameter, and the diameter of the grain with the assistance of Malvern-Panalytical’s HighScore Plus software.

The morphology and structural characteristics of the samples were observed via SEM using a TM3030 microscope (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan). The crystal structures were analysed using a D/max-2200VPC X-ray diffractometer (Rigaku, Tokyo, Japan). FTIR spectroscopy (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA) was used to characterise the functional groups in the samples. A universal testing machine (CMT5504, MTS, Eden Prairie, MN, USA) was used to study the mechanical properties. All electrochemical performance tests were conducted on an electrochemical workstation (51-XMX1004, Oxford, UK).