Abstract
This article addresses recent advances in liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) for studying nanoscale synthetic processes of carbon-based materials that are independent of the electron beam-those driven by nonradiolytic chemical or thermal reactions. In particular, we focus on chemical/physical formations and the assembly of nanostructures composed of organic monomers/polymers, peptides/DNA, and biominerals. The synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials generally only occurs at specific conditions, which cannot be mimicked by aqueous solution radiolysis. Carbon-based structures themselves are also acutely sensitive to the damaging effects of the irradiating beam, which make studying their synthesis using LPTEM a unique challenge that is possible when beam effects can be quantified and mitigated. With new direct sensing, high frame-rate cameras, and advances in liquid cell holder designs, combined with a growing understanding of irradiation effects and proper experimental controls, microscopists have been able to make strides in observing traditionally problematic carbon-based materials under conditions where synthesis can be controlled, and imaged free from beam effects, or with beam effects quantified and accounted for. These materials systems and LPTEM experimental techniques are discussed, focusing on nonradiolytic chemical and physical transformations relevant to materials synthesis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 727-737 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | MRS Bulletin |
Volume | 45 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2020 |
Funding
This manuscript was written with Government support under and awarded by the US Department of Defense through the ARO (W911NF-17–1-0326, W911NF-18–1-0359, and MURI W911NF-15–1-0568). In addition, N.C.G and L.R.P. thank the National Science Foundation (NSF) for support through Grant No. (CHE-1905270). M.V. thanks the NSF for support through the Graduate Research Fellowship Grant No. GRFP (DGE- 1842165). B.J. thanks the support from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Physical Sciences Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for the DOE by Battelle under Contract No. DE-AC05–76RL01830.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry