A Large‐Scale Array of Ordered Graphene‐Sandwiched Chambers for Quantitative Liquid‐Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy. Issue 39 (25th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Kitaek; Bae, Yuna; Jeon, Sungho; Kim, Kihwan; Kim, Byung Hyo; Kim, Joodeok; Kang, Sungsu; Heo, Taeyeong; Park, Jungwon; Lee, Won Chul
• Is Part Of: Advanced materials. Volume 32:Issue 39(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-08-25
• Subjects: anodic aluminum oxide -- graphene liquid cells -- in situ TEM -- liquid‐phase TEM; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002889
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0935-9648

Abstract

Abstract: Liquid‐phase transmission electron microscopy (TEM) offers a real‐time microscopic observation of the nanometer scale for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the growth, etching, and interactions of colloidal nanoparticles. Despite such unique capability and potential application in diverse fields of analytical chemistry, liquid‐phase TEM studies rely on information obtained from the limited number of observed events. In this work, a novel liquid cell with a large‐scale array of highly ordered nanochambers is constructed by sandwiching an anodic aluminum oxide membrane between graphene sheets. TEM analysis of colloidal gold nanoparticles dispersed in the liquid is conducted, employing the fabricated nanochamber array, to demonstrate the potential of the nanochamber array in quantitative liquid‐phase TEM. The independent TEM observations in the multiple nanochambers confirm that the monomer attachment and coalescence processes universally govern the overall growth of nanoparticles, although individual nanoparticles follow different growth trajectories. Abstract : An advanced liquid cell with an array of highly ordered graphene‐covered nanochambers is designed for quantitative liquid‐phase TEM analysis to establish collection of massive direct in situ data at a statistical meaningful level. Colloidal nanoparticle behavior, including diffusion, growth, and interactions, is quantitatively studied using the fabricated liquid cell.