Work

Nanometer-scale resolution in an ultra-high pressure environmental TEM holder

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Environmental Transmission Electron Microscopy gas holders are vital for studying catalyst nanostructures in reactive gases. Although there are existing methods to understand the behavior of catalysts during reaction, a “pressure gap” exists. Pressures of up to 4.5 bar have been demonstrated, but many industrial catalysts operate at 10–100 bar. This work introduces an ultra-high-pressure TEM gas holder designed to bridge this gap. Experiments demonstrate it can safely operate and achieve nanometer-scale resolution (~ 1.5 nm) in an Environmental TEM at pressures up to 27.5 bar. Practical resolution limitations are attributed to contamination and vibration rather than increased gas scatter. Graphical abstract

Source: MRS Communications

DOI: 10.1557/s43579-025-00825-7

Authors: George G. Hollyer, Dmitri N. Zakharov, Daan Hein Alsem, Calvin Parkin, Eric A. Stach

Institutions: University of Pennsylvania, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Hummingbird Scientific (United States)

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Structural Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,390