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Method for 3D atomic structure determination of multi-element nanoparticles with graphene liquid-cell TEM.
Junyoung Heo1,2, Dongjun Kim1, Hyesung Choi1
1School of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Scientific Reports
|February 1, 2023
Summary
This study presents a new method to determine the 3D atomic structures of multi-element nanoparticles in liquid using graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (GLC-TEM). The technique precisely identifies atom types and positions, advancing nanoparticle research.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Understanding nanoparticle properties requires knowing their 3D atomic structure in native environments.
- Graphene liquid cell (GLC) transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allows direct observation of nanoparticles in solution.
- Existing methods struggle with multi-element systems in liquid phase.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel method for determining the 3D atomic structure of multi-element nanoparticles in liquid.
- To enable precise identification and localization of individual atoms within nanoparticles.
- To advance the characterization of synthesized nanoparticles in their native liquid environment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized graphene liquid cell (GLC) TEM for in-situ observation of nanoparticles.
- Developed a 3D atomic structure determination method based on low-pass filtration and initial 3D model generation.
- Employed Brownian one-particle reconstruction on high-resolution TEM images of rotating nanoparticles.
- Validated the method using TEM simulations of PbSe, CdSe, and FePt nanoparticles.
Main Results:
- Successfully reconstructed high-resolution 3D Coulomb density maps for ordered and disordered multi-element systems.
- Enabled accurate classification of heteroatom types within nanoparticles.
- Achieved precise determination of atom types and positions with root mean square displacement < 24 pm.
- Demonstrated the method's efficacy on simulated PbSe, CdSe, and FePt nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- The developed method enables high-resolution 3D atomic structure determination for multi-element nanoparticles in liquid phase.
- This technique allows for precise identification of constituent atoms and their positions.
- The findings pave the way for in-situ investigation of synthesized multi-element nanoparticles in solution.
