Cathodoluminescence in liquid cell TEM?!

We found out at Argonne National Laboratory, where Thomas Gage hosted us a few weeks ago, and we tested the combination of equipment.

Tom, a big thanks for hosting Insight Chips for this test!

And thanks to JG Wen as well, for joining and supporting us throughout the day.

We'll be happy to be back if you want to try more liquid-cell TEM experiments with our chips.

Some of these first-ever results are shared here. What we're looking at is 400 nm thick nano channels with 20 nm SiN membranes on either side, all filled with highly concentrated fluorescein liquid.

STEM image of Nano Channels full of fluorescein solution!

The fluorescein is excited by the electrons and emits light at wavelengths which peak in intensity at about 514-520 nm - which was indeed picked up by the detector, as seen in this GIF:

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GIF of light collection from the nano channels at various wavelengths.

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The liquid in the channels took some damage from the high beam-intensity, calling for lower beam-dose and longer collection time for beam-sensitive samples.

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Second channel from the top now has a bubble inside of it, as a result of radiolytic beam damage.

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Fluorescein is seen crystallizing from interaction with the beam.

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The holder is Insight Chips' new patentpending high-tilt holder for tomography, 3DED, and of course, use with the Attolight Mönch system.

Thanks again, Tom and JG!