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Nanofluidic Cells with Controlled Path Length and Liquid Flow for Rapid, High-Resolution In Situ Electron Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2013

C. Mueller ,
M. Harb ,
J.R. Dwyer  and
R.J.D. Miller
C. Mueller
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada.
M. Harb
Affiliation:
Insight Nanofluidics Inc, 60 St George StreetSuite 331, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada.
J.R. Dwyer
Affiliation:
Insight Nanofluidics Inc, 60 St George StreetSuite 331, Toronto, ON M5S 1A7, Canada. Department of Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, 51 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
R.J.D. Miller*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Toronto, 80 St George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada. Max Planck Research Group for Structural Dynamics, Department of Physics, University of Hamburg, c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.
*
*Corresponding Author: dwayne.miller@mpsd.cfel.de
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Abstract

In situ imaging using (scanning) transmission electron microscopy has proven to be an extremely important and powerful cross-disciplinary scientific technique. In particular nanotechnology and materials sciences have special interest in assembly and disintegration processes, in growth and shape-tuning of (nano)-particles, and, furthermore in mechanistic studies of chemical reactions underlying these processes. However, limitations for in liquid and in situ imaging using electron microscopy arise from the stringent experimental conditions required with respect to electron scattering.

Here, we present a nanofluidic sample cell allowing for controlled fluidic conditions which preserve the highest possible spatial resolution for in-liquid electron microscopy. The nanocell allows for liquid flow with a flow control mechanism operated external to the microscope column enabling on-the-fly sample exchange within the imaging area. A well-defined flow path allows us to direct the motion of gold nanorods through fluid flow. Further a particle’s Brownian motion becomes evident once the external flow is terminated. In addition to quantitatively showing the resolution capabilities of our nanofluidic design, we show preliminary results of in situ imaging of gold nanorods and unstained amyloid fibrils to emphasize the significance of this imaging modality for both material sciences and biology.

Keywords

fluidicsnanoscaletransmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1544: Symposium J – In-Situ Characterization Methods in Energy Materials Research , 2013 , mrss13-1544-j01-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2013 

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