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Updated: Dec 25, 2025
08:04
Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography
Published on: March 12, 2017
9.7K
High spatiotemporal-resolution imaging in the scanning transmission electron microscope
Ryo Ishikawa1,2, Yu Jimbo3, Mitsuhisa Terao3
1Institute of Engineering Innovation, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.
Microscopy (Oxford, England)
|April 4, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed a faster scanning probe system for scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), enabling 25 frames per second imaging. This breakthrough allows for atomic-resolution observation of dynamic material transformations and atomic motion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electron Microscopy
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Current scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has limited temporal resolution due to slow scanning systems, restricting dynamic observations.
- Achieving atomic-resolution imaging of dynamic processes requires faster scanning and detection systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced scanning probe system for significantly enhanced temporal resolution in STEM.
- To enable real-time, atomic-resolution observation of dynamic material behaviors.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel scanning probe system with rapid pixel acquisition (83 nanoseconds) and fly-back times (35 microseconds).
- Implementation of a 512 x 512 pixel imaging capability at 25 frames per second.
- Utilizing the system for in situ observation of nanoparticle shape transformation and single atomic motion.
Main Results:
- Achieved 25 frames per second STEM imaging, exceeding human perception speed.
- Demonstrated atomic-resolution observation of platinum nanoparticle shape changes.
- Captured real-time atomic motion of platinum on a TiO2 surface with 40-millisecond temporal resolution.
Conclusions:
- The developed high-speed probe scanning system overcomes previous temporal limitations in STEM.
- This technology facilitates in situ studies of material dynamics under various environmental and testing conditions.
- Opens new avenues for understanding nanoscale phenomena in real-time.
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