Automated SEM/EDX imaging for the in-depth characterization of non-exhaust traffic emissions from the Munich subway system.

A SEM/EDX based automated measurement and classification algorithm was tested as a method for the in-depth analysis of micro-environments in the Munich subway using a custom build mobile measurements system. Sampling was conducted at platform stations, to investigate the personal exposure of commuters to subway particulate matter during platform stays. EDX spectra and morphological features of all analyzed particles were automatically obtained and particles were automatically classified based on pre-defined chemical and morphological boundaries.

Observations of grain-boundary phase transformations in an elemental metal.

The theory of grain boundary (the interface between crystallites, GB) structure has a long history and the concept of GBs undergoing phase transformations was proposed 50 years ago. The underlying assumption was that multiple stable and metastable states exist for different GB orientations. The terminology 'complexion' was recently proposed to distinguish between interfacial states that differ in any equilibrium thermodynamic property.