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A surface characterisation and microstructural study by scanning electron microscopy of the N-methyl-n-alkylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate organic salts
journal contribution
posted on 2003-01-01, 00:00 authored by Jim Efthimiadis, Maria ForsythMaria Forsyth, D MacFarlaneA microstructural characterisation of the family of N-methyl-N-alkylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate organic salts was carried out by observation of powder surface morphologies with the aim of extending the microstructure-property correlation. Inherent difficulties limiting extensive studies of organic solids by SEM, including volatility under vacuum, charging due to electron beam irradiation, and air-sensitivity were overcome with the use of a Field Emission SEM and cryostage attachment. This technique, providing considerable improvements in image quality at low accelerating voltages, enabled direct observation of complex microstructural features in samples exhibiting high temperature plastic crystalline phases (N,N-dimethylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate [P11BF4]; N-methyl-N-ethylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate [P12BF4]; N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate [P13BF4]). Extensive lattice imperfections including grain boundaries, slip planes and dislocation pits were observed within particles of approximately 200 mgrm diameter. The N-methyl-N-butylpyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate (P14BF4) sample in this series revealed columnar single crystals with high aspect ratios. The origin of plastic flow properties is discussed using single crystal and polycrystalline slip observations and a relationship proposed between defect characteristics and transport properties.
History
Journal
Journal of materials scienceVolume
38Issue
15Pagination
3293 - 3301Publisher
SpringerLocation
New York, N.Y.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0022-2461eISSN
1573-4803Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2003, Kluwer Academic PublishersUsage metrics
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