Structural characterization of the n = 5 layered perovskite neodymium titanate using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and image reconstruction

The structure of Nd₅Ti₅O₁₇ has been refined from a reconstruction of the specimen exit-plane wave restored from a series of incrementally defocused high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images. The phase of the exit-plane wave shows contrast attributable to the oxygen anion sublattice and coupled with simulations provides confirmation of the composition of the cation sites as a function of sample thickness. The enhanced resolution in the exit-plane wave additionally allows a direct measurement of the `skewing' of the perovskite slabs.