The development of materials science always benefits from advanced characterizations. Currently, imaging techniques are of great technological importance in both fundamental and applied research on materials. In comparison to conventional visualization methods, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is non-invasive, with macroscale and high-contrast scanning, a simple and fast sample preparation procedure as well as easy operation. In addition, CLSM allows rapid acquisition of longitudinal and cross-sectional images at any position in a material. Therefore, the CLSM-based visualization technique could provide direct and model-independent insight into material characterizations. This review summarizes the recent applications of CLSM in materials science. The current CLSM approaches for the visualization of surface structures, internal structures, spatial structures and reaction processes are discussed in detail. Finally, we provide our thoughts and predictions on the future development of CLSM in materials science. The purpose of this review is to guide researchers to build a suitable CLSM approach for material characterizations, and to open viable opportunities and inspirations for the development of new strategies aiming at the preparation of advanced materials. We hope that this review will be useful for a wide range of research communities of materials science, chemistry, and engineering.

中文翻译：

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使用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜技术可视化材料。

材料科学的发展总是受益于先进的表征。当前，成像技术在材料的基础研究和应用研究中都具有重要的技术重要性。与传统的可视化方法相比，共聚焦激光扫描显微镜（CLSM）是非侵入性的，具有宏观和高对比度扫描，简单而快速的样品制备过程以及易于操作。另外，CLSM允许快速获取材料中任何位置的纵向和横截面图像。因此，基于CLSM的可视化技术可以为材料表征提供直接且与模型无关的见解。这篇综述总结了CLSM在材料科学中的最新应用。当前的CLSM方法用于可视化表面结构，内部结构，详细讨论了空间结构和反应过程。最后，我们对材料科学中CLSM的未来发展提供了想法和预测。这篇综述的目的是指导研究人员建立合适的CLSM方法进行材料表征，并为开发旨在制备高级材料的新策略提供可行的机会和启发。我们希望这篇评论对材料科学，化学和工程学的广泛研究社区有用。并为旨在准备先进材料的新策略的开发提供可行的机会和灵感。我们希望这篇评论对材料科学，化学和工程学的广泛研究社区有用。并为旨在开发先进材料的新策略的开发提供可行的机会和灵感。我们希望这篇评论对材料科学，化学和工程学的广泛研究社区有用。