Phase Transition of Cubic Ice to Hexagonal Ice during Growth and Decomposition.

Ice, one of the most enigmatic materials on Earth, exhibits diverse polymorphism, with research mainly focusing on the most commonly observed phases: hexagonal ice (I), cubic ice (I), and stacking-disordered ice (I). While their formation or structural changes are crucial for advancements in cloud science, climate modeling, and cryogenic technology, the molecular mechanisms driving these phenomena remain unexplored. Herein, utilizing cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, we investigate the formation of ice at two different temperatures, demonstrating a size-dependent phase shift from I to I.

Single-Molecule Graphene Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy for Instability of Intermediate Amyloid Fibrils.

Single-molecule techniques are powerful microscopy methods that provide new insights into biological processes. Liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy (LP-TEM) is an ideal single-molecule technique for overcoming the poor spatiotemporal resolution of optical approaches. However, single-molecule LP-TEM is limited by several challenges such as electron-beam-induced molecular damage, difficulty in identifying biomolecular species, and a lack of analytical approaches for conformational dynamics.

Converting the Bulk Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Crystal into Stacked Monolayers via Ethylenediamine Intercalation.

We report the synthesis of ethylenediamine-intercalated NbSe and Li-ethylenediamine-intercalated MoSe single crystals with increased interlayer distances and their electronic structures measured by means of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscopy images confirm the successful intercalation and an increase in the interlayer distance. ARPES measurement reveals that intercalated NbSe shows an electronic structure almost identical to that of monolayer NbSe.

Graphene Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy: Progress, Applications, and Perspectives.

Graphene liquid cell electron microscopy (GLC-EM), a cutting-edge liquid-phase EM technique, has become a powerful tool to directly visualize wet biological samples and the microstructural dynamics of nanomaterials in liquids. GLC uses graphene sheets with a one carbon atom thickness as a viewing window and a liquid container. As a result, GLC facilitates atomic-scale observation while sustaining intact liquids inside an ultra-high-vacuum transmission electron microscopy chamber.

Lithographically patterned well-type graphene liquid cells with rational designs.

Graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy allows in situ observation of nanomaterial dynamics in a liquid environment. However, this method suffers from both random formation and small size of liquid pockets. Here, we introduce facile and mass-producible graphene-sealed well-type liquid cells with rational designs.