Studying the Local Structure of Hydrogen Bond Networks via Low-Temperature Atomic-Resolution Electron Microscopy
EMSL Project ID
60620
Abstract
Molecular crystals such as ice and various frozen alcohols are connected by hydrogen bonds and often form at low temperatures away from ambient conditions. As such, these crystals are typically very delicate, and it is challenging to obtain atomic-resolution images using transmission electron microscopy to study their local structures, including interface and defect configurations. We propose to develop a frozen liquid-cell approach to achieve atomic-resolution imaging of nanoscale hydrogen-bond crystal structures. Specifically, liquids protected between conductive amorphous membranes will be frozen to form molecular crystals, which will be imaged by aberration-corrected (scanning) transmission electron microscopy [(S)TEM]. Freezing bicomponent solutions such as water-alcohol mixtures will further enable mixed and phase-separated crystals, providing unprecedented experimental results on the nanoscale configuration of these structures and their interfaces. Furthermore, we will investigate complex open-cage structures such as clathrate hydrates and aim to provide high-resolution pictures of the host-guest interaction in these energy-critical materials. Taken together, this work will offer new capabilities for studying nano- and atomic-scale low-temperature phenomena and shed light on the configuration of polar molecules in the solid state.
Project Details
Start Date
2022-11-01
End Date
2023-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)