Electron–Water Interactions and Implications for Liquid Cell Electron Microscopy

Liquid cell electron microscopy enables direct in situ imaging of processes in liquids and objects suspended in liquids with nanoscale resolution. However, the irradiating electrons affect the chemistry of the suspending medium, typically an aqueous solution, producing molecular and radical products such as hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrated (solvated) electrons. These may impact the imaged structures and phenomena. A good understanding of the interactions between the electrons and the irradiated medium is necessary to correctly interpret experiments, minimize artifacts, and take advantage of the irradiation. We predict the composition of water subjected to electron irradiation in the electron microscope. We…

• DO
  Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems

  Award: 1066573
• DO
  Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation

  Award: 1129722