Opportunities for Cryogenic Electron Microscopy in Materials Science and Nanoscience.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Physical Sciences
• Structural Biology

Background:

• Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) revolutionized structural biology with near atomic-resolution imaging of biomolecules.
• Its potential extends to physical sciences for characterizing sensitive materials not amenable to traditional high-resolution methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the interdisciplinary application of cryo-EM in materials science.
• To identify key areas within materials science that can benefit from cryo-EM's unique capabilities.

Main Methods:

• The perspective reviews the application of cryo-electron microscopy for materials characterization.
• It highlights the stabilization of weakly bonded and reactive materials under electron irradiation and environmental exposure.

Main Results:

• Six major areas in materials science are identified as potential beneficiaries: batteries, soft polymers, metal-organic frameworks, perovskite solar cells, electrocatalysts, and quantum materials.
• Cryo-EM can address long-standing questions in these fields, enabling fundamental breakthroughs.

Conclusions:

• Cryo-EM offers powerful new avenues for materials characterization beyond its established role in life sciences.
• This technique is poised to drive significant discoveries and advance our understanding across diverse materials science domains.