Nanoscale visualization of metallic electrodeposition in a well-controlled chemical environment.

Liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) provides a useful means to study a wide range of dynamics in solution with near-atomic spatial resolution and sub-microsecond temporal resolution. However, it is still a challenge to control the chemical environment (such as the flow of liquid, flow rate, and the liquid composition) in a liquid cell, and evaluate its effect on the various dynamic phenomena. In this work, we have systematically demonstrated the flow performance of anliquid TEM system, which is based on 'on-chip flow' driven by external pressure pumps.

electrochemistry inside a TEM with controlled mass transport.

The field of electrochemistry promises solutions for the future energy crisis and environmental deterioration by developing optimized batteries, fuel-cells and catalysts. Combined with in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it can reveal functional and structural changes. A drawback of this relatively young field is lack of reproducibility in controlling the liquid environment while retaining the imaging and analytical capabilities.

Control of MXenes' electronic properties through termination and intercalation.

MXenes are an emerging family of highly-conductive 2D materials which have demonstrated state-of-the-art performance in electromagnetic interference shielding, chemical sensing, and energy storage. To further improve performance, there is a need to increase MXenes' electronic conductivity. Tailoring the MXene surface chemistry could achieve this goal, as density functional theory predicts that surface terminations strongly influence MXenes' Fermi level density of states and thereby MXenes' electronic conductivity.

Advanced microheater for in situ transmission electron microscopy; enabling unexplored analytical studies and extreme spatial stability.

In this work we present our advanced in situ heating sample carrier for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM is a powerful tool for materials characterization, especially when combined with micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). These deliver in situ stimuli such as heating, in which case temperatures up to 1300 °C can be reached with high temporal stability without affecting the original TEM spatial resolution: indeed, atomic resolution imaging can be routinely performed.