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Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Picometer-Precision Atomic Position Tracking through Electron Microscopy
Published on: July 3, 2021
Resolving sub-angstrom ambient motion through reconstruction from vibrational spectra.
Jack Griffiths1, Tamás Földes2,3, Bart de Nijs4
1NanoPhotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.
Researchers visualize single-atom dynamics and transient metal-organic bonds using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. This technique reveals sub-nanometer interactions and chemical perturbations, advancing nanoscale chemistry understanding.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Physics
- Surface Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Metal/organic-molecule interactions are crucial but occur at sub-nanometer scales.
- Existing nanoscale visualization techniques often average over heterogeneous distributions.
- Single-molecule imaging faces challenges in tracking chemical behavior under ambient conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for visualizing dynamic sub-ångström metal-molecule interactions.
- To overcome limitations in understanding surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra.
- To track the chemical behavior of single atoms and molecules at the nanoscale.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to monitor single-molecule vibrations.
- Optically generating metallic adatoms near molecules of interest.
- Inverting SERS spectra using a comprehensive model to determine metal-molecule interactions.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated dynamic sub-ångström metal-molecule interactions.
- Revealed anomalous diffusion of single atoms.
- Observed transient metal-organic coordination bonds perturbing molecular functional groups over 10 bonds away.
Conclusions:
- The developed technique allows for the dynamic tracking of sub-nanometer metal-molecule interactions.
- This method provides insights into anomalous diffusion and long-range chemical perturbations.
- Advancements in computational methods will enhance the applicability of this technique for complex chemistries.
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