Charged Particle Microscopy With Liquifiable Ice Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charged particle microscopy methods for studying (bio)chemistry experiments are time-consuming and challenging due to the complexity of micro-reactors, which are not fully transparent to electrons, limiting the ability to observe (bio)chemical reactions in a time-resolved manner.
Innovation Solution
A method using a liquifiable barrier material, such as vitreous ice, is introduced to separate particles until a desired moment, allowing interaction through Brownian motion, and is observed in a charged particle microscope by locally heating or using a charged particle beam to liquify and re-solidify the barrier material for time-resolved observations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If micro-reactors are used to observe particle interactions, then particle separation and interaction control is improved, but device complexity increases and transparency to electrons deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the barrier material from complex micro-reactor structures and uses simple vitrified ice layers deposited directly on grid surfaces. This removes unnecessary structural complexity while maintaining the particle separation function through the ice barrier that can be controllably melted.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex physical micro-reactor structures, the invention creates a simplified model using vitrified ice barriers that replicate the separation function. The ice layer serves as a temporary barrier that can be removed by melting, providing the same particle separation effect without structural complexity.
2Reliability
If micro-reactors are used for time-resolved observations, then particle interaction control is improved, but observation time increases due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from solid (vitrified ice) to liquid state to control particle interactions. By controlling the melting of the ice barrier, particles are released to interact at precise time points, enabling time-resolved observations without the time loss associated with complex micro-reactor operations.
3Reliability
If barrier material is used to separate particles, then particle separation is improved, but transparency to electrons deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the barrier material from solid to liquid through controlled melting. The vitrified ice barrier is transparent when solid, allowing electron transmission for imaging while maintaining particle separation. When melted, it becomes liquid and allows particle interaction, resolving the contradiction between separation and transparency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient, time-resolved observation of particle interactions without the need for complex micro-reactors, using standard grids and providing high temporal resolution for detailed analysis of chemical reactions.
Implementation Method 1
By using a barrier material, such as vitreous ice, the first particle and the second particle can be kept separated from each other until a desired moment in time. The barrier material may thus be arranged to prevent the first particle and the second particle from interacting with each other.
Implementation Method 2
liquifying at least a part of the barrier material for enabling an interaction between the first particle and the second particle
Implementation Method 3
The flux of transmitted electrons emanating from the sample can then be used to create an image. When such a TEM is operated in scanning mode (thus becoming a STEM), the image in question will be accumulated during a scanning motion of the irradiating electron beam.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of time-resolved charged particle microscopy comprises the step of providing a sample for charged particle microscopy, wherein said sample comprises a first particle and a second particle, and wherein said sample comprises a barrier material between said first particle and said second particle. The method further comprises the step of liquifying at least a part of the barrier material for enabling an interaction between the first particle and the second particle. Finally, the resulting interaction between the first particle and the second particle can be observed in a charged particle microscope.