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Related Concept Videos

Transmission Electron Microscopy01:15

Transmission Electron Microscopy

In 1931, physicist Ernst Ruska—building on the idea that magnetic fields can direct an electron beam just as lenses can direct a beam of light in an optical microscope—developed the first prototype of the electron microscope. This development led to the development of the field of electron microscopy. In the transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrons are produced by a hot tungsten element and accelerated by a potential difference in an electron gun, which gives them up to 400 keV in...
Electron Behavior00:54

Electron Behavior

Overview
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in locations that are associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into sub-shells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the...
Electron Behavior01:09

Electron Behavior

Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles attracted to and orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in spaces associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into subshells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the nucleus have less energy,...
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
Electron Carriers01:24

Electron Carriers

Electron carriers can be thought of as electron shuttles. These compounds can easily accept electrons (i.e., be reduced) or lose them (i.e., be oxidized). They play an essential role in energy production because cellular respiration is contingent on the flow of electrons.
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Electron Orbital Model01:18

Electron Orbital Model

Orbitals are the areas outside of the atomic nucleus where electrons are most likely to reside. They are characterized by different energy levels, shapes, and three-dimensional orientations. The location of electrons is described most generally by a shell or principal energy level, then by a subshell within each shell, and finally, by individual orbitals found within the subshells.
The first shell is closest to the nucleus, and it has only one subshell with a single spherical orbital called the...

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Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque
11:41

Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque

Published on: May 19, 2014

Are electron tweezers possible?

Vladimir P Oleshko1, James M Howe

  • 1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. vladimir.oleshko@nist.gov

Ultramicroscopy
|September 28, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Focused electron beams can trap and steer solid aluminum nanoparticles, enabling precise manipulation for nanoscale device fabrication. This technique offers superior resolution compared to optical tweezers.

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Last Updated: May 29, 2026

Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque
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Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation
09:29

Utilization of Plasmonic and Photonic Crystal Nanostructures for Enhanced Micro- and Nanoparticle Manipulation

Published on: September 27, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Physics

Background:

  • Conventional optical tweezers have limitations in resolution and manipulation precision for nanoscale objects.
  • Understanding nanoscale transformations in binary alloys is crucial for advanced materials development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate single electron beam trapping and steering of aluminum nanoparticles.
  • To investigate in situ nanoscale transformations and properties of binary alloy particles.
  • To explore the potential of electron beams as advanced nano-manipulation tools.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing an analytical transmission electron microscope (TEM) with energy filtering.
  • Employing valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy for in situ analysis.
  • Generating and manipulating 20-300nm solid aluminum nanoparticles within molten Al-Si alloy spheres.

Main Results:

  • Successfully trapped and steered individual solid aluminum nanoparticles using a focused electron beam.
  • Observed nanoscale transformations, melting, and crystallization dynamics in real time.
  • Detected enhanced vibrations at the solid-liquid interface for nanoparticles below 20nm.
  • Demonstrated electron beam-induced transfer of linear and angular momentum for nanoparticle manipulation.

Conclusions:

  • Focused electron beams can precisely manipulate metal nanoparticles, acting as 'electron tweezers'.
  • This method provides atomic-level sensitivity and superior lateral resolution over optical tweezers.
  • Potential applications include touchless nano-object processing and fabrication of assembled nanodevices.