High-Resolution EM of Colloidal Nanocrystal Growth Using Graphene Liquid Cells

Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 336 (6077) ◽  
pp. 61-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong Min Yuk ◽  
Jungwon Park ◽  
Peter Ercius ◽  
Kwanpyo Kim ◽  
Daniel J. Hellebusch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Electron Beam Radiation ◽  
Nanocrystal Growth ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Colloidal Platinum ◽  
New Type ◽  
Liquid Cell ◽  
Resolution Imaging ◽  
Site Selective

We introduce a new type of liquid cell for in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on entrapment of a liquid film between layers of graphene. The graphene liquid cell facilitates atomic-level resolution imaging while sustaining the most realistic liquid conditions achievable under electron-beam radiation. We employ this cell to explore the mechanism of colloidal platinum nanocrystal growth. Direct atomic-resolution imaging allows us to visualize critical steps in the process, including site-selective coalescence, structural reshaping after coalescence, and surface faceting.

scholarly journals Imaging, understanding, and control of nanoscale materials transformations

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haimei Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Solid Electrolyte Interphase ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Nanocrystal Growth ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Lithium Dendrites ◽  
Liquid Cell ◽  
Resolution Imaging ◽  
And Control

AbstractThe development of liquid cells for transmission electron microscopy has enabled breakthroughs in our ability to follow nanoscale structural, morphological, or chemical changes during materials growth and applications. Time-resolved high-resolution imaging and chemical analysis through liquids opened the opportunity to capture nanoscale dynamic processes of materials, including reaction intermediates and the transformation pathways. In this article, a series of work is highlighted with topics ranging from liquid cell developments to in situ studies of nanocrystal growth and transformations, dendrite formation, and suppression of lithium dendrites through in situ characterization of the solid–electrolyte interphase chemistry. The understanding garnered is expected to accelerate the discovery of novel materials for applications in energy storage, catalysis, sensors, and other functional devices.

In Situ Study of Spinel Ferrite Nanocrystal Growth Using Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (23) ◽  
pp. 8146-8152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-I Liang ◽  
Xiaowei Zhang ◽  
Karen Bustillo ◽  
Chung-Hua Chiu ◽  
Wen-Wei Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Spinel Ferrite ◽  
In Situ Study ◽  
Nanocrystal Growth ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Cell Transmission ◽  
Liquid Cell

scholarly journals Spiers Memorial Lecture : New tools for observing the growth and assembly of colloidal inorganic nanocrystals

2015 ◽  
Vol 181 ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Paul Alivisatos ◽  
Hoduk Cho ◽  
Jungwon Park
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Interaction Potential ◽  
Memorial Lecture ◽  
Direct Imaging ◽  
Nanocrystal Growth ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Liquid Cell ◽  
Inorganic Nanocrystals

We present two examples of the use of liquid cells to study colloidal inorganic nanocrystals using in situ transmission electron microscopy. The first uses a liquid cell to quantify the interaction potential between pairs of colloidal nanocrystals, and the second demonstrates direct imaging of nanocrystal growth and structure in the liquid cell.

In situ REM imaging of surface processes on ceramic bulk crystals from 300 to 1670 K in a conventional TEM

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 660-661
Author(s):  
Z. L. Wang ◽  
J. Bentley
Keyword(s):  
High Temperatures ◽  
Image Resolution ◽  
Atomic Processes ◽  
Crystal Surfaces ◽  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Reflection Electron Microscopy ◽  
Gas Reactions

Studying the behavior of surfaces at high temperatures is of great importance for understanding the properties of ceramics and associated surface-gas reactions. Atomic processes occurring on bulk crystal surfaces at high temperatures can be recorded by reflection electron microscopy (REM) in a conventional transmission electron microscope (TEM) with relatively high resolution, because REM is especially sensitive to atomic-height steps.Improved REM image resolution with a FEG: Cleaved surfaces of a-alumina (012) exhibit atomic flatness with steps of height about 5 Å, determined by reference to a screw (or near screw) dislocation with a presumed Burgers vector of b = (1/3)<012> (see Fig. 1). Steps of heights less than about 0.8 Å can be clearly resolved only with a field emission gun (FEG) (Fig. 2). The small steps are formed by the surface oscillating between the closely packed O and Al stacking layers. The bands of dark contrast (Fig. 2b) are the result of beam radiation damage to surface areas initially terminated with O ions.

scholarly journals Fabrication of a liquid cell for in situ transmission electron microscopy

Microscopy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoguang Li ◽  
Kazutaka Mitsuishi ◽  
Masaki Takeguchi
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Microscopy Imaging ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
In Situ Electron Microscopy ◽  
Liquid Cell ◽  
Si Wafer

Abstract Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM) enables imaging of dynamic processes in liquid with high spatial and temporal resolution. The widely used liquid cell (LC) consists of two stacking microchips with a thin wet sample sandwiched between them. The vertically overlapped electron-transparent membrane windows on the microchips provide passage for the electron beam. However, microchips with imprecise dimensions usually cause poor alignment of the windows and difficulty in acquiring high-quality images. In this study, we developed a new and efficient microchip fabrication process for LCTEM with a large viewing area (180 µm × 40 µm) and evaluated the resultant LC. The new positioning reference marks on the surface of the Si wafer dramatically improve the precision of dicing the wafer, making it possible to accurately align the windows on two stacking microchips. The precise alignment led to a liquid thickness of 125.6 nm close to the edge of the viewing area. The performance of our LC was demonstrated by in situ transmission electron microscopy imaging of the dynamic motions of 2-nm Pt particles. This versatile and cost-effective microchip production method can be used to fabricate other types of microchips for in situ electron microscopy.

In-situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy guiding the design of large-sized cocatalysts coupled with ultra-small photocatalysts for highly efficient energy harvesting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunlang Gao ◽  
Chunqiang Zhuang ◽  
Yuanli Li ◽  
Heyang Qi ◽  
Ge Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Transmission Electron Microscopy ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Design Strategy ◽  
Efficient Energy ◽  
Highly Efficient ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Cell Transmission ◽  
Liquid Cell

In this study, we employed in-situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LC-TEM) to carry out the new design strategy of precisely regulating the microstructure of large-sized cocatalysts for highly efficient...

scholarly journals Radiation-initiated high strength chitosan/lithium sulfonate double network hydrogel/aerogel with porosity and stability for efficient CO2 capture

RSC Advances ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (33) ◽  
pp. 20486-20497
Author(s):  
Zhiyan Liu ◽  
Rui Ma ◽  
Wenjie Du ◽  
Gang Yang ◽  
Tao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Beam Radiation ◽  
Chitosan Hydrogel ◽  
Double Network ◽  
Electron Beam Radiation ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Urea Aqueous Solution ◽  
Capture Capacity

Chitosan hydrogel is regenerated from alkali/urea aqueous solution and the lithium sulfonate second network is introduced by electron beam radiation-initiated in situ free radical polymerization. The freeze-dried aerogel has CO2 capture capacity.

Visualization of the Coalescence of Bismuth Nanoparticles

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 416-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai-Yang Niu ◽  
Hong-Gang Liao ◽  
Haimei Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Precursor Solution ◽  
Growth Trajectories ◽  
Transport Mechanisms ◽  
Bismuth Nanoparticles ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Liquid Cell ◽  
Significant Pathway ◽  
Mass Transport Mechanisms ◽  
Bi Nanoparticles

AbstractCoalescence is a significant pathway for the growth of nanostructures. Here we studied the coalescence of Bi nanoparticles in situ by liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The growth of Bi nanoparticles was initiated from a bismuth neodecanoate precursor solution by electron beam irradiation inside a liquid cell under the TEM. A significant number of coalescence events occurred from the as-grown Bi nanodots. Both symmetric coalescence of two equal-sized nanoparticles and asymmetric coalescence of two or more unequal-sized nanoparticles were analyzed along their growth trajectories. Our observation suggests that two mass transport mechanisms, i.e., surface diffusion and grain boundary diffusion, are responsible for the shape evolution of nanoparticles after a coalescence event.

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