Nanocuvette: A Functional Ultrathin Liquid Container for Transmission Electron Microscopy
| Autor: | Wadell, C., Inagaki, S., Nakamura, T., Shi, J., Nakamura, Y., Sannomiya, Takumi |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Materials science
Fabrication Resolution (electron density) General Engineering General Physics and Astronomy Nanoparticle Nanotechnology 02 engineering and technology Electron 010402 general chemistry 021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology 01 natural sciences 0104 chemical sciences Acceleration Carbon film Transmission electron microscopy General Materials Science 0210 nano-technology Voltage |
| Zdroj: | ACS nano. 11(2) |
| ISSN: | 1936-086X |
| Popis: | Advances in TEM techniques have spurred a renewed interest in a wide variety of research fields. A rather recent track within these endeavors is the use of TEM for in situ imaging in liquids. In this article, we show the fabrication of a liquid cell for TEM observations which we call the nanocuvette. The structure consists of a nanohole film sandwiched by carbon films, sealing liquid in the holes. The hole film can be produced using a variety of materials, tailored for the desired application. Since the fabrication is based on self-assembly, it is both cheap and straightforward. Compared to previously reported liquid cells, this structure allows for thinner liquid layers with better controlled cell structures, making it possible to achieve a high resolution even at lower acceleration voltages and electron doses. We demonstrate a resolution corresponding to an information transfer up to ∼2 nm at 100 kV for molecular imaging. Apart from the advantages arising from the thin liquid layer, the nanocuvette also enables the possibility to study liquid-solid interfaces at the side walls of the nanoholes. We illustrate the possibilities of the nanocuvette by studying several model systems: electron beam induced growth dynamics of silver nanoparticles in salt solution, polymer deposition from solution, and imaging of nonstained antibodies in solution. Finally, we show how the inclusion of a plasmonically active gold layer in the nanocuvette structure enables optical confirmation of successful liquid encapsulation prior to TEM studies. The nanocuvette provides an easily fabricated and flexible platform which can help further the understanding of reactions, processes, and conformation of molecules and atoms in liquid environments. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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