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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Light-Induced In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy for Observation of the Liquid-Soft Matter Interaction
Published on: July 26, 2022
In situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy of photocatalytic reactions by excited electrons in ionic
Abstract:
A transmission electron microscope (TEM) sample for observing photocatalysis in a liquid was prepared by using N,N,N-trimetyl-N-propylammonium-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. The ionic liquid (IL) was used as a reaction solvent. Tetrachloroauric acid was dissolved in the IL as gold ion species. Rutile particles were added in the solution as a photocatalyst. The low vapor pressure of the IL enables a diffusing system in high vacuum of TEM. Rutile particles were UV irradiated in that liquid phase. After 3 h UV irradiation, a gold particle of 8 nm diameter was grown on the TiO2 surface. Photonucleation of Au/TiO2 system was discussed from the high-resolution TEM images.
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