Graphene-Sealed Flow Cells for <i>In Situ</i> Transmission Electron Microscopy of Liquid Samples
Gabriel Dunn, Vivekananda P. Adiga, Thang Pham, Christopher D Bryant, Donez Horton-Bailey, Jason N. Belling, Benjamin LaFrance, Jonathan A. Jackson, Hamid Reza Barzegar, Jong Min Yuk, Shaul Aloni, Michael F. Crommie, Alex Zettl
Abstract
imaging of liquid samples via transmission electron microscopy. The cell combines the benefits of graphene liquid cells-namely, high resolution, reduced charging effects, and excellent sample stability-with the ability to introduce reactants and control fluid concentrations as provided by conventional silicon-nitride-windowed flow cells. The graphene flow cell offers significantly less window bowing compared to existing commercial holders. We demonstrate the performance of the flow cell by imaging gold nanoparticle dynamics and uranyl acetate crystallization. Our results confirm the utility of graphene flow cells in obtaining the high spatial and temporal resolution required for probing the complex dynamics of nanoparticles and nucleation pathways in aqueous solutions.