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Egerton R, Watanabe M. Spatial Resolution in Transmission Electron Microscopy. Micron 2022; 160:103304. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2022.103304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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de Jonge N. Theory of the spatial resolution of (scanning) transmission electron microscopy in liquid water or ice layers. Ultramicroscopy 2018; 187:113-125. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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de Jonge N, Verch A, Demers H. The Influence of Beam Broadening on the Spatial Resolution of Annular Dark Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2018; 24:8-16. [PMID: 29485023 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927618000077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The spatial resolution of aberration-corrected annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy was studied as function of the vertical position z within a sample. The samples consisted of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) positioned in different horizontal layers within aluminum matrices of 0.6 and 1.0 µm thickness. The highest resolution was achieved in the top layer, whereas the resolution was reduced by beam broadening for AuNPs deeper in the sample. To examine the influence of the beam broadening, the intensity profiles of line scans over nanoparticles at a certain vertical location were analyzed. The experimental data were compared with Monte Carlo simulations that accurately matched the data. The spatial resolution was also calculated using three different theoretical models of the beam blurring as function of the vertical position within the sample. One model considered beam blurring to occur as a single scattering event but was found to be inaccurate for larger depths of the AuNPs in the sample. Two models were adapted and evaluated that include estimates for multiple scattering, and these described the data with sufficient accuracy to be able to predict the resolution. The beam broadening depended on z 1.5 in all three models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels de Jonge
- 1INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials,66123 Saarbrücken,Germany
| | - Andreas Verch
- 1INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials,66123 Saarbrücken,Germany
| | - Hendrix Demers
- 3Department of Materials Engineering,McGill University,Montreal,QC H3A 0C5,Canada
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Drees H, Müller E, Dries M, Gerthsen D. Electron-beam broadening in amorphous carbon films in low-energy scanning transmission electron microscopy. Ultramicroscopy 2018; 185:65-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Unocic RR, Lupini AR, Borisevich AY, Cullen DA, Kalinin SV, Jesse S. Direct-write liquid phase transformations with a scanning transmission electron microscope. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:15581-15588. [PMID: 27510435 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr04994j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The highly energetic electron beam (e-beam) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) can induce local changes in the state of matter, ranging from knock-on and atomic movement, to amorphization/crystallization, and to localized chemical/electrochemical reactions. To date, fundamental studies of e-beam induced phenomena and practical applications have been limited by conventional STEM e-beam rastering modes that allow only for uniform e-beam exposures. Here, an automated liquid phase nanolithography method has been developed that enables the direct writing of nanometer scaled features within microfabricated liquid cells. An external e-beam control system, connected to the scan coils of an aberration-corrected STEM, is used to precisely control the position, dwell time, and scan rate of a sub-nanometer STEM probe. Site-specific locations in a sealed liquid cell containing an aqueous solution of H2PdCl4 are irradiated to deposit palladium nanocrystals onto silicon nitride membranes in a highly controlled manner. The threshold electron dose required for the radiolytic deposition of metallic palladium has been determined, the influence of electron dose on the nanolithographically patterned feature size and morphology is explored, and a feedback-controlled monitoring method for active control of the nanofabricated structures through STEM detector signal monitoring is proposed. This approach enables fundamental studies of electron beam induced interactions with matter in liquid cells and opens new pathways to fabricate nanostructures with tailored architectures and chemistries via shape-controlled nanolithographic patterning from liquid-phase precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond R Unocic
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA. and Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN, 37831, USA
| | - Andrew R Lupini
- Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN, 37831, USA and Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Albina Y Borisevich
- Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN, 37831, USA and Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - David A Cullen
- Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN, 37831, USA
| | - Sergei V Kalinin
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA. and Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN, 37831, USA
| | - Stephen Jesse
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA. and Institute for Functional Imaging of Materials, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge TN, 37831, USA
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Nguyen KX, Holtz ME, Richmond-Decker J, Muller DA. Spatial Resolution in Scanning Electron Microscopy and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Without a Specimen Vacuum Chamber. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2016; 22:754-767. [PMID: 27452123 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927616011405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A long-standing goal of electron microscopy has been the high-resolution characterization of specimens in their native environment. However, electron optics require high vacuum to maintain an unscattered and focused probe, a challenge for specimens requiring atmospheric or liquid environments. Here, we use an electron-transparent window at the base of a scanning electron microscope's objective lens to separate column vacuum from the specimen, enabling imaging under ambient conditions, without a specimen vacuum chamber. We demonstrate in-air imaging of specimens at nanoscale resolution using backscattered scanning electron microscopy (airSEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy. We explore resolution and contrast using Monte Carlo simulations and analytical models. We find that nanometer-scale resolution can be obtained at gas path lengths up to 400 μm, although contrast drops with increasing gas path length. As the electron-transparent window scatters considerably more than gas at our operating conditions, we observe that the densities and thicknesses of the electron-transparent window are the dominant limiting factors for image contrast at lower operating voltages. By enabling a variety of detector configurations, the airSEM is applicable to a wide range of environmental experiments including the imaging of hydrated biological specimens and in situ chemical and electrochemical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla X Nguyen
- 1School of Applied and Engineering Physics,Cornell University,Ithaca,NY 14853,USA
| | - Megan E Holtz
- 1School of Applied and Engineering Physics,Cornell University,Ithaca,NY 14853,USA
| | | | - David A Muller
- 1School of Applied and Engineering Physics,Cornell University,Ithaca,NY 14853,USA
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Kennedy E, Nelson EM, Tanaka T, Damiano J, Timp G. Live Bacterial Physiology Visualized with 5 nm Resolution Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy. ACS NANO 2016; 10:2669-2677. [PMID: 26811950 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b07697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
It is now possible to visualize at nanometer resolution the infection of a living biological cell with virus without compromising cell viability using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). To provide contrast while preserving viability, Escherichia coli and P1 bacteriophages were first positively stained with a very low concentration of uranyl acetate in minimal phosphate medium and then imaged with low-dose STEM in a microfluidic liquid flow cell. Under these conditions, it was established that the median lethal dose of electrons required to kill half the tested population was LD50 = 30 e(-)/nm(2), which coincides with the disruption of a wet biological membrane, according to prior reports. Consistent with the lateral resolution and high-contrast signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) inferred from Monte Carlo simulations, images of the E. coli membrane, flagella, and the bacteriophages were acquired with 5 nm resolution, but the cumulative dose exceeded LD50. On the other hand, with a cumulative dose below LD50 (and lower SNR), it was still possible to visualize the infection of E. coli by P1, showing the insertion of viral DNA within 3 s, with 5 nm resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - John Damiano
- Protochips, Inc. , Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, United States
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García-Negrete CA, Jiménez de Haro MC, Blasco J, Soto M, Fernández A. STEM-in-SEM high resolution imaging of gold nanoparticles and bivalve tissues in bioaccumulation experiments. Analyst 2015; 140:3082-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c4an01643b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Optimized STEM-in-SEM imaging of gill explants is applied to assess the subcellular location of nanoparticles and their possible toxic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. A. García-Negrete
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (CSIC - Univ. Sevilla)
- 41092 Sevilla
- Spain
| | - M. C. Jiménez de Haro
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (CSIC - Univ. Sevilla)
- 41092 Sevilla
- Spain
| | - J. Blasco
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (ICMAN-CSIC)
- 11519 Puerto Real (Cádiz)
- Spain
| | - M. Soto
- Zoology and Cell Biology Dept
- Science and Technology Faculty & Research Centre in Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PiE-UPV/EHU) University of the Basque Country
- 48940 Leioa-Bizkaia
- Spain
| | - A. Fernández
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (CSIC - Univ. Sevilla)
- 41092 Sevilla
- Spain
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Wang CH, Hsu HC, Wang KC. Iridium-decorated Palladium–Platinum core–shell catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in proton exchange membrane fuel cell. J Colloid Interface Sci 2014; 427:91-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2013.11.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Revised: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Peckys DB, de Jonge N. Liquid scanning transmission electron microscopy: imaging protein complexes in their native environment in whole eukaryotic cells. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2014; 20:346-65. [PMID: 24548636 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927614000099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of specimens in liquid, so-called Liquid STEM, is capable of imaging the individual subunits of macromolecular complexes in whole eukaryotic cells in liquid. This paper discusses this new microscopy modality within the context of state-of-the-art microscopy of cells. The principle of operation and equations for the resolution are described. The obtained images are different from those acquired with standard transmission electron microscopy showing the cellular ultrastructure. Instead, contrast is obtained on specific labels. Images can be recorded in two ways, either via STEM at 200 keV electron beam energy using a microfluidic chamber enclosing the cells, or via environmental scanning electron microscopy at 30 keV of cells in a wet environment. The first series of experiments involved the epidermal growth factor receptor labeled with gold nanoparticles. The labels were imaged in whole fixed cells with nanometer resolution. Since the cells can be kept alive in the microfluidic chamber, it is also feasible to detect the labels in unfixed, live cells. The rapid sample preparation and imaging allows studies of multiple whole cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana B Peckys
- 1 Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM), 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Niels de Jonge
- 1 Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM), 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
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de Jonge N, Pfaff M, Peckys DB. Practical Aspects of Transmission Electron Microscopy in Liquid. ADVANCES IN IMAGING AND ELECTRON PHYSICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800264-3.00001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Holtz ME, Yu Y, Gao J, Abruña HD, Muller DA. In situ electron energy-loss spectroscopy in liquids. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2013; 19:1027-1035. [PMID: 23721691 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927613001505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) through liquids is a promising approach for exploring biological and materials processes. However, options for in situ chemical identification are limited: X-ray analysis is precluded because the liquid cell holder shadows the detector and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is degraded by multiple scattering events in thick layers. Here, we explore the limits of EELS in the study of chemical reactions in their native environments in real time and on the nanometer scale. The determination of the local electron density, optical gap, and thickness of the liquid layer by valence EELS is demonstrated. By comparing theoretical and experimental plasmon energies, we find that liquids appear to follow the free-electron model that has been previously established for solids. Signals at energies below the optical gap and plasmon energy of the liquid provide a high signal-to-background ratio regime as demonstrated for LiFePO4 in an aqueous solution. The potential for the use of valence EELS to understand in situ STEM reactions is demonstrated for beam-induced deposition of metallic copper: as copper clusters grow, EELS develops low-loss peaks corresponding to metallic copper. From these techniques, in situ imaging and valence EELS offer insights into the local electronic structure of nanoparticles and chemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Holtz
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA.
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Ramachandra R, Demers H, de Jonge N. The influence of the sample thickness on the lateral and axial resolution of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2013; 19:93-101. [PMID: 23290505 DOI: 10.1017/s143192761201392x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The lateral and axial resolution of three-dimensional (3D) focal series aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy was studied for samples of different thicknesses. The samples consisted of gold nanoparticles placed on the top and at the bottom of silicon nitride membranes of thickness between 50 and 500 nm. Atomic resolution was obtained for nanoparticles on top of 50-, 100-, and 200-nm-thick membranes with respect to the electron beam traveling downward. Atomic resolution was also achieved for nanoparticles placed below 50-, 100-, and 200-nm-thick membranes but with a lower contrast at the larger thicknesses. Beam broadening led to a reduced resolution for a 500-nm-thick membrane. The influence of the beam broadening on the axial resolution was also studied using Monte Carlo simulations with a 3D sample geometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjan Ramachandra
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0615, USA
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