Quantitative structural characterization and property measurements of materials by in situ electron microscopy

该研究计划的长期目标是在材料暴露于相关和现实的刺激或环境期间对其进行定量结构表征和性能测量，以及在纳米和亚纳米长度尺度下加工和操作期间的实时演变。 短期目标是建立一个液体细胞电子和相关显微镜平台，允许研究材料在液体环境中的功能。我们将致力于该计划的一部分，对水溶液中的电子束效应与多个物种的理解，以及电子束与非极性溶液和离子液体的相互作用。基于从束效应的基础研究中获得的新知识，我们正在努力探索液体电池电子显微镜研究的新前沿，并在几个技术领域改进技术，包括：i）催化和光化学; ii）腐蚀和空化; iii）环境修复和水处理; iv）以及在富碳陨石和小行星中识别外星氨基酸。 透射电子显微镜（TEM）提供了材料在原子水平上的结构和成分信息。TEM通常在高真空中对薄的固体样品进行。为了研究浸入水和其他液体中的材料，我们提出了一种跨学科的“间隙实验室”方法。具体而言，将使用具有高度小型化水平的微机电系统（MEMS）技术，在完全集成的封闭液体池样品架中进行研究，该样品架能够研究浸入液体中的材料，并可能产生额外的刺激，如光学或电气影响，热量或气体，并同时获得现场的多种响应和信号。 CFI资助的多伦多大学安大略先进材料表征中心包括一个环境TEM和一个高分辨率扫描电子显微镜，为拟议的发现计划提供平台。 电子显微镜正迅速从一种观测科学发展为一种原位实验室平台，用于推进科学和工程研究的许多前沿。液体细胞电子显微镜是正在经历革命性增长的领域之一。我们的原型液体电池的初步数据表明，我们在许多技术领域取得重要发现的道路是正确的。 HQP将直接参与液体显微镜实验的设计和液体池保持器的操作。他们将获得基础研究与应用跨学科项目合作的第一手经验，以解决材料合成、空间科学、替代能源等领域的关键问题。

The long-term objective of the research program is to carry out quantitative structural characterization and property measurements of materials during their exposure to relevant and realistic stimuli or environments, and their real-time evolution during processing and operation at nano and sub-nanometer length scales. The short-term objective is to build a liquid-cell electron and correlative microscopy platform that allows the study of how materials function in liquid environments. We will devote a portion of the program towards the understanding of electron-beam effects in aqueous solutions with multiple species, as well as electron beam interactions with nonpolar solutions and ionic liquids. Based upon the new knowledge gain from the fundamental studies of the beam effects, we are striving to explore new frontiers of liquid cell electron microscopy research with improved techniques in several technological areas including: i) catalysis and photochemistry; ii) corrosion and cavitation; iii) environmental remediation and water treatment; and iv) and identifying extraterrestrial amino acids in the carbon-rich meteorites and asteroids. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) offers structural and compositional information of materials at the atomic level. TEM is conventionally carried out on a thin, solid sample in high vacuum. In order to study materials immersed in water and other liquids, we propose an interdisciplinary, “lab-in-the-gap” approach. Specifically, using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology with a high level of miniaturization, research will be conducted in fully integrated, closed liquid cell sample holders that enable the study of materials immersed in liquid, with possible additional stimuli such as optical or electrical influence, heat or gas, and simultaneously acquire multiple responses and signals in situ. The CFI-funded Ontario Centre for the Characterisation of Advanced Materials at the University of Toronto includes an environmental TEM and a high-resolution scanning electron microscope that provide the platforms for the proposed Discovery program. Electron microcopy is rapidly evolving from an observational science to an in situ laboratory platform for advancing many fronts of science and engineering research. Liquid cell electron microscopy is one of the areas that is experiencing revolutionary growth. Preliminary data from our prototype liquid cell suggest that we on the right track for making important discoveries in a number of technological sectors. HQP will be directly involved in the design of the liquid microscopy experiments and the operation of the liquid cell holder. They will gain first-hand experience to work with fundamental research coupled with applied interdisciplinary projects to solve critical problems in the fields of materials synthesis, space science, alternative energy resources, and beyond.