• 文献标题:   Nanometer Resolution Elemental Mapping in Graphene-Based TEM Liquid Cells
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   KELLY DJ, ZHOU MW, CLARK N, HAMER MJ, LEWIS EA, RAKOWSKI AM, HAIGH SJ, GORBACHEV RV
  • 作者关键词:   edx spectrum imaging, in situ tem, graphene liquid cell, nanoparticle, van der waals heterostructure
  • 出版物名称:   NANO LETTERS
  • ISSN:   1530-6984 EI 1530-6992
  • 通讯作者地址:   Univ Manchester
  • 被引频次:   19
  • DOI:   10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b04713
  • 出版年:   2018

▎ 摘  要

We demonstrate a new design of graphene liquid cell consisting of a thin lithographically patterned hexagonal boron nitride crystal encapsulated on both sides with graphene windows. The ultrathin window liquid cells produced have precisely controlled volumes and thicknesses and are robust to repeated vacuum cycling. This technology enables exciting new opportunities for liquid cell studies, providing a reliable platform for high resolution transmission electron microscope imaging and spectral mapping. The presence of water was confirmed using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) via the detection of the oxygen Kedge and measuring the thickness of full and empty cells. We demonstrate the imaging capabilities of these liquid cells by tracking the dynamic motion and interactions of small metal nanoparticles with diameters of 0.5-5 nm. We further present an order of magnitude improvement in the analytical capabilities compared to previous liquid cell data with 1 nm spatial resolution elemental mapping achievable for liquid encapsulated bimetallic nanoparticles using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS).