• 文献标题:   Single-walled carbon nanotubes and nanocrystalline graphene reduce beam-induced movements in high-resolution electron cryo-microscopy of ice-embedded biological samples
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   RHINOW D, WEBER NE, TURCHANIN A, GOLZHAUSER A, KUHLBRANDT W
  • 作者关键词:   biological specimen preparation, carbon nanotube, doping, electron microscopy, graphene, nanobiotechnology, selfassembly, suspension, thin film
  • 出版物名称:   APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
  • ISSN:   0003-6951 EI 1077-3118
  • 通讯作者地址:   Max Planck Inst Biophys
  • 被引频次:   8
  • DOI:   10.1063/1.3645010
  • 出版年:   2011

▎ 摘  要

For single particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM), contrast loss due to beam-induced charging and specimen movement is a serious problem, as the thin films of vitreous ice spanning the holes of a holey carbon film are particularly susceptible to beam-induced movement. We demonstrate that the problem is at least partially solved by carbon nanotechnology. Doping ice-embedded samples with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in aqueous suspension or adding nanocrystalline graphene supports, obtained by thermal conversion of cross-linked self-assembled biphenyl precursors, significantly reduces contrast loss in high-resolution cryoEM due to the excellent electrical and mechanical properties of SWNTs and graphene. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3645010]