Tsinghua University: Researchers describe a manufacturable process to produce carbon nanotube-containing TEM grids that enable improved microscopic resolution when used to image nanoparticles.
Researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing have developed a novel nanoenabled device that pushes the limits of scientists’ ability to image nanoparticles, as well as a method to produce these devices on a large scale. This device, a grid used in transmission electron microscopy, supports nanoparticles during observation, and is itself composed of nanomaterials, specifically a film of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT). The CNTs facilitate improved resolution of the nanoparticles during imaging to allow scientists to resolve details of nanoparticles that are not visible with conventional amorphous carbon grids. Fine structures visible in the image of copper sulfide nanoparticles obtained with the novel grid (left image) are not resolvable in the image obtained with the conventional grid (right).
This is not the first example in which nanomaterials have enabled the characterization of other nanomaterials and nanostructured features. CNTs and other high aspect ratio nanomaterials are sold commercially as probes and tips in atomic force microscopy to resolve nanoscale features in the x, y, and z planes. CNTs are also used as field emitters, and have been investigated for use in electron microscopes in order to improve stability and lower operating voltages. Nanoparticles of various sizes are routinely marketed as calibration standards for microscopy and aerosol science.
Supporting information available from ACS Nano Letters.
A review of the article appears in ACS Nanotation.
Images reprinted with permission from Nano Letters 2008, ASAP Article, 10.1021/nl8012727. Copyright 2008 American Chemical Society.
