Picoliter Drop-On-Demand Dispensing for Multiplex Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM) offers insights into nanomaterial behavior in solution.
• Controlling solution addition and mixing in LCTEM is challenging for throughput and studying dynamic processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a piezo dispensing technique for controlled solution mixing within LCTEM.
• To enable higher throughput and study of solution-dependent processes like chemical reactions in LCTEM.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a piezo dispensing technique for precise deposition of 50 picoliter aqueous solution droplets.
• Integrated this technique with liquid cell transmission electron microscopy for in-situ observation.
• Demonstrated controlled assembly of the liquid cell post-droplet deposition.

Main Results:

• Successfully deposited picoliter droplets of various aqueous solutions onto the liquid cell window.
• Enabled direct mixing of multiple solutions within the LCTEM viewing area.
• Showcased the potential for observing nanoparticle mixing and creating chemical gradients in solution.

Conclusions:

• Picoliter dispensing is a viable technique for controlled solution delivery in LCTEM.
• This method significantly enhances the capability to study dynamic processes and chemical reactions involving nanomaterials in solution.
• Opens new avenues for high-throughput analysis and gradient generation in liquid phase electron microscopy.