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2025 Vol.35, Issue 12 Preview Page

Special Issue KIMS - Review

Recent Progress in Hydrogen Embrittlement Behavior Analysis of Steels using Cryogenic Atom Probe Tomography

Cryogenic Atom Probe Tomography 기반 철강소재 수소취성 거동 분석 기술 동향

Jisung Yoo1†
,
Jeong-Min Lee1
,
Chang-Hoon Lee1
유 지성1†
,
이 정민1
,
이 창훈1
1Extreme Materials Research Institute, Korea Institute of Materials Science, Changwon 51508, Republic of Korea
1한국재료연구원 극한재료연구소
†Corresponding author E-Mail : jisungyoo@kims.re.kr (J. Yoo, KIMS)
27 December 2025. pp. 634-646
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Abstract

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) remains one of the most critical challenges in ensuring the structural integrity of steels for hydrogen energy infrastructures, including storage and transport systems. Despite decades of research, the underlying mechanism of HE is still not fully understood due to the complexity of hydrogen-microstructure interactions across multiple length scales. Cryogenic Atom Probe Tomography (Cryo-APT) has recently emerged as a unique method of providing near-atomic resolution and compositional sensitivity for hydrogen analysis, thereby enabling direct visualization of hydrogen distribution at defects, interfaces, and precipitates. This review summarizes recent progress in Cryo-APT-based investigations of hydrogen behavior in steels, with a focus on trapping mechanisms, the role of microstructural features, and the synergistic activation of multiple HE mechanisms. Key technical developments, such as cryogenic workflows and isotope tracing, have significantly advanced the reliability of Cryo-APT hydrogen quantification. Case studies on ferritic-martensitic steels, pearlitic steels, and advanced high-strength steels highlight the potential of Cryo-APT to reveal both diffusible and non-diffusible hydrogen trapping. While current limitations include local sampling bias, experimental complexity, and signal interpretation challenges, continuous improvements in methodology and integration with multiscale modeling are expected to establish Cryo-APT as a core approach for elucidating HE mechanisms. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the current technical state and future directions of Cryo-APT in HE researches.

Keywords
cryogenic atom probe tomography
hydrogen analysis
hydrogen embrittlement
advanced high-strength steels
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Information
  • Publisher :Materials Research Society of Korea
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국재료학회
  • Journal Title :Korean Journal of Materials Research
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국재료학회지
  • Volume : 35
  • No :12
  • Pages :634-646
  • Received Date : 2025-09-10
  • Revised Date : 2025-12-10
  • Accepted Date : 2025-12-10
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.3740/MRSK.2025.35.12.634
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