Monochromated Transmission Electron Microscopy
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Materials
Abstract
At Imperial College London and the London Centre for Nanotechnology we installed an electron microscope in 2006 which is unique in the UK and is one of only a few in the world. This microscope allows materials to be characterised by imaging and spectroscopic methods with a combined energy and spatial resolution that is world-leading. Access to such an instrument will allow researchers working in the field of nanotechnology to better understand the factors that influence the performance and characteristics of their new materials and devices. While the instrument is heavily used for research projects in the LCN we feel it would be worthwhile to make some time available on this state-of-the-art facility for researchers in other academic institutions to investigate their materials using this facility. In addition to providing access we will support these external users through technical support, training and data interpretation. We are seeking funds to allow us to provide this external access.
Publications
Day H
(2010)
Controlling the three-dimensional morphology of nanocrystals
in CrystEngComm
Boonrungsiman S
(2013)
Correlative spectroscopy of silicates in mineralised nodules formed from osteoblasts.
in Nanoscale
Kellici S
(2010)
High-throughput continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis of Zn-Ce oxides: unprecedented solubility of Zn in the nanoparticle fluorite lattice.
in Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences
Isakov I
(2013)
InAs(1-x)P(x) nanowires grown by catalyst-free molecular-beam epitaxy.
in Nanotechnology
Mukherjee D
(2015)
Modeling In Vivo Interactions of Engineered Nanoparticles in the Pulmonary Alveolar Lining Fluid.
in Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Liberti E
(2016)
Probing the size dependence on the optical modes of anatase nanoplatelets using STEM-EELS.
in Nanoscale
Coleman JN
(2011)
Two-dimensional nanosheets produced by liquid exfoliation of layered materials.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
| Description | At Imperial College London and the London Centre for Nanotechnology we installed an electron microscope in 2006 which is unique in the UK and is one of only a few in the world. This microscope allows materials to be characterised by imaging and spectroscopic methods with a combined energy and spatial resolution that is world-leading. Access to such an instrument will allow researchers working in the field of nanotechnology to better understand the factors that influence the performance and characteristics of their new materials and devices. While the instrument is heavily used for research projects in the LCN we feel it would be worthwhile to make some time available on this state-of-the-art facility for researchers in other academic institutions to investigate their materials using this facility. In addition to providing access we will support these external users through technical support, training and data interpretation. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Multiwall Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) Encapsulated Iron Nanowires |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The ultimate goal for these materials is to create extremely anisotropic nano-sized magnets for use individually as magnetic probe tips, and for use in arrays as very high density data storage media. Synthesis and characterisation of Fe-filled MWCNTs was undertaken by a PhD student at Queen Mary. Previous characterisation of Fe-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes provided firm evidence that some MWCNTs contain Fe-metal or Fe-carbide phases with large lattice spacings not corresponding to known crystal structures. The confinement of the Fe core by highly elastic MWNT (elastic modulus ~1 TPa) results in crystalline phases, phase transformations, and magnetic phenomena significantly different from those of bulk material. There is a high expectation of new or unknown phases owing to core confinement and possibly MWNT/core commensurability. The Fe:C ratio for the unknown phase was measured using high resolution, quantitative EELS measurements on a cross-section of the Fe-filled MWCNT. |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Multiwall Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) Encapsulated Iron Nanowires |
| Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The ultimate goal for these materials is to create extremely anisotropic nano-sized magnets for use individually as magnetic probe tips, and for use in arrays as very high density data storage media. Synthesis and characterisation of Fe-filled MWCNTs was undertaken by a PhD student at Queen Mary. Previous characterisation of Fe-filled multi-walled carbon nanotubes provided firm evidence that some MWCNTs contain Fe-metal or Fe-carbide phases with large lattice spacings not corresponding to known crystal structures. The confinement of the Fe core by highly elastic MWNT (elastic modulus ~1 TPa) results in crystalline phases, phase transformations, and magnetic phenomena significantly different from those of bulk material. There is a high expectation of new or unknown phases owing to core confinement and possibly MWNT/core commensurability. The Fe:C ratio for the unknown phase was measured using high resolution, quantitative EELS measurements on a cross-section of the Fe-filled MWCNT. |
| Description | Prof. Marty Gregg, Queens University, Belfast. Microscopy at the Ferroelectric-Electrode Interface |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Prof. Marty Gregg, Queens University, Belfast. The form of the permittivity fall-off observed in dielectric thin films is such that a parasitic low permittivity region, or ?dead layer? exists, acting electrically in series with a particular dielectric film. Series behaviour implied that that the dead-layer originated at the electrode-dielectric interface though beyond this supposition, little is known about the origin, nature and location of the dead layer. This is in spite of recent surges of interest in the use of thin high-permittivity layers as substitutes for silicon oxide in gate dielectrics and DRAM devices. The key emphasis of the importance of the nature of the single bond across the dielectric-metal interface demands further investigation, which is the purpose of the proposed Titan microscopy. |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Selenium enhanced microscopic imaging of amyloid beta aggregates inside cells |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The aim of this project was to develop a methodology to image amyloid beta - the peptide associated with Alzheimers disease, inside cells. We have demonstrated how selenium enhanced electron microscopy (SE-EM), combined with tomographic reconstruction methods, can be used to image, here at a resolution of 5-10 nanometres, the interaction of amyloid aggregates formed from a fragment of the Alzheimer?s-related A_ peptide, A_25-36, with human macrophage cells. |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | [S]TEM Imaging of Silica Tubes |
| Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Initiated a collaboration with NPL on silica tubes synthesised a protein template. Collabroators Vaso Tsileli. Anaysis (EDX and HRTEM) of silica nanotubes produced using a protein templating method at the NPL. One day of work. |
| Start Year | 2013 |