Characterization of microstructure, chemistry and function of energy materials remains a challenge for instrumentation science. This active area of research is making considerable strides with methodologies that employ bright X-rays, electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopy. However, further development of instruments capable of multimodal measurements, is necessary to reveal complex microstructure evolution in realistic environments. In this regard, laser-based instruments have a unique advantage as multiple methodologies are easily combined into a single instrument. A pump-probe method that uses optically generated acoustic phonons is expanding standard optical characterization by providing depth resolved information. Here we report on an extension of this method to image grain microstructure in ceria. Rich information regarding the orientation of individual crystallites is obtained by noting how the polarization of the probe beam influences the detected signal amplitude. When paired with other optical microscopies, this methodology will provide new perspectives for characterization of ceramic materials.

能源材料的微观结构，化学和功能的表征仍然是仪器科学的挑战。这个活跃的研究领域在采用明亮X射线，电子显微镜和光谱学的方法学上取得了长足的进步。但是，有必要进一步开发能够进行多峰测量的仪器，以揭示现实环境中复杂的微观结构演变。在这方面，基于激光的仪器具有独特的优势，因为多种方法可以轻松地组合到一个仪器中。使用光学产生的声子的泵浦探测方法通过提供深度分辨信息来扩展标准光学特性。在这里，我们报告了这种方法的扩展，以对氧化铈中的晶粒微观结构进行成像。通过注意探测光束的偏振如何影响检测到的信号幅度，可以获得有关单个微晶取向的丰富信息。当与其他光学显微镜配对时，这种方法将为表征陶瓷材料提供新的视角。