A flow cell for electron microscopy imaging of specimen in liquid or gas.

Reference Number(s)
     Laboratory:  92
     Docket Number:  1300001559
     DOE reference no.(s): 105,161

Abstract

High-resolution imaging (i.e. with nanometer resolution) is often performed in vacuum with a probe beam of for example X-rays, or electrons. Since the specimen is exposed to vacuum special sample preparation is necessary and often frozen samples are imaged. This presents a problem especially for biological samples preventing imaging under natural, 'wet' conditions. Another example is the investigation of materials in a liquid environment, or a gas environment, for example, catalysts. Imaging of samples in a liquid environment, or a gas environment is possible with light-optical microscopy. But, this type of microscopy is limited by the spatial resolution. A new way of imaging samples is enabled by a gas/liquid flow cell for use in a scanning (transmission) electron microscope (STEM).

Application(s) of the Technology

Electron microscopy of materials, nanosciences, chemical sciences and biological sciences. Protein structure determination. 3D imaging.

Main Advantages of Invention

This invention allows imaging of materials in their natural environment and change of that environment while observing the object/material

Status/Availability

Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively

Patents & Applications

Posting Date:  Tuesday, Nov 22 2005

Contact

Ashok Choudhury
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
P.O. Box 2008
Building /4500N, Room 137
Mailstop 6196
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
(865) 574-0393
choudhurya@ornl.gov