| Abstract Scope |
Oxidation-induced interfaces strongly influence the performance of materials used in catalysis, energy conversion, and corrosion-resistant applications. However, the early stages of oxidation, when oxide nuclei form and evolve, remain poorly understood despite their importance in determining long-term microstructural evolution and properties. Using in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in a dedicated environmental TEM, we directly observe oxide nucleation and growth on Cu-based systems with atomic-scale spatial resolution. The results reveal parallels between early-stage oxidation and thin-film heteroepitaxial formation, where surface diffusion, interfacial strain, and kinetic pathways govern oxide morphology and interface evolution. Combined with atomistic simulations, these studies identify factors controlling oxide and interfacial structural evolution. Ongoing work on bimetallic alloys examines selective oxidation and the competing thermodynamic and kinetic factors that govern oxide formation when multiple alloying elements can oxidize. |