Addressing some of the technical challenges associated with liquid phase S/TEM studies of particle nucleation, growth and assembly

Guomin Zhu; Holger Reiner; Helmut Cölfen; James J De Yoreo

doi:10.1016/j.micron.2018.12.001

Addressing some of the technical challenges associated with liquid phase S/TEM studies of particle nucleation, growth and assembly

Micron. 2019 Mar:118:35-42. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2018.12.001. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Authors

Guomin Zhu¹, Holger Reiner², Helmut Cölfen², James J De Yoreo³

Affiliations

¹ Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352 United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States.
² Physical Chemistry, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
³ Physical Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352 United States; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, United States. Electronic address: James.DeYoreo@pnnl.gov.

PMID: 30572190
DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2018.12.001

Abstract

In situ liquid phase scanning/ transmission electron microscopy (LP-S/TEM), enables direct observation of particle formation and evolution in the hydrated liquid state. Though powerful, this technique has significant technical limitations, which need to be carefully addressed in order to obtain reliable quantitative data. In this paper, we highlight several common challenges seen in LP-TEM, including electron-beam induced particle dissolution and motion, particle-membrane adhesion, contamination, and triggering of reactions. We describe our efforts to address these challenges by modifying solution and interface chemistry, maintaining solution flow, performing systematic post in situ analyses on the samples and applying controlled heating.

Keywords: Crystallization; Dissolution; Flow liquid phase; Heating; In situ S/TEM.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Abstract

Publication types

Grants and funding