TY - JOUR
T1 - Electron-Water interactions and implications for liquid cell electron microscopy
AU - Schneider, Nicholas M.
AU - Norton, Michael M.
AU - Mendel, Brian J.
AU - Grogan, Joseph M.
AU - Ross, Frances M.
AU - Bau, Haim H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Chemical Society.
Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/9/25
Y1 - 2014/9/25
N2 - Liquid cell electron microscopy enables direct in situ imaging of processes in liquids and objects suspended in liquids with nanoscale resolution. However, the irradiating electrons affect the chemistry of the suspending medium, typically an aqueous solution, producing molecular and radical products such as hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrated (solvated) electrons. These may impact the imaged structures and phenomena. A good understanding of the interactions between the electrons and the irradiated medium is necessary to correctly interpret experiments, minimize artifacts, and take advantage of the irradiation. We predict the composition of water subjected to electron irradiation in the electron microscope. We reinterpret available experimental data, such as beam-induced variations in pH and colloid aggregation, in light of our predictions and show new observations of crystallization and etching as functions of dose rate, resolving conflicting reports in the scientific literature. We make our computer code available to readers. Our predictive model is useful for designing experiments that minimize unwanted beam effects, extending liquid cell microscopy to new applications, taking advantage of beam effects for nanomanufacturing such as the patterning of nanostructures, and correctly interpreting experimental observations. Additionally, our results indicate that liquid cells provide a new tool to study radiolysis effects on materials and processes.
AB - Liquid cell electron microscopy enables direct in situ imaging of processes in liquids and objects suspended in liquids with nanoscale resolution. However, the irradiating electrons affect the chemistry of the suspending medium, typically an aqueous solution, producing molecular and radical products such as hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrated (solvated) electrons. These may impact the imaged structures and phenomena. A good understanding of the interactions between the electrons and the irradiated medium is necessary to correctly interpret experiments, minimize artifacts, and take advantage of the irradiation. We predict the composition of water subjected to electron irradiation in the electron microscope. We reinterpret available experimental data, such as beam-induced variations in pH and colloid aggregation, in light of our predictions and show new observations of crystallization and etching as functions of dose rate, resolving conflicting reports in the scientific literature. We make our computer code available to readers. Our predictive model is useful for designing experiments that minimize unwanted beam effects, extending liquid cell microscopy to new applications, taking advantage of beam effects for nanomanufacturing such as the patterning of nanostructures, and correctly interpreting experimental observations. Additionally, our results indicate that liquid cells provide a new tool to study radiolysis effects on materials and processes.
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U2 - 10.1021/jp507400n
DO - 10.1021/jp507400n
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84907457070
VL - 118
SP - 22373
EP - 22382
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
SN - 1932-7447
IS - 38
ER -