Graphene liquid cells and their newest applications in TEM
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Location: 12-0168 (MIT.nano basement)
Speaker: Dr. Pauline van Deursen, CTO, Vitrotem
Schedule:
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Seminar
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.: Lunch
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Live demo
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Abstract
Graphene liquid cells (GLCs), formed between two layers of graphene, have long been seen as a promising sample carrier for TEM imaging, both at room temperature or plunge-frozen. Combining a typical thickness that starts at just tens of nanometers with the beam-protective properties of graphene itself, GLCs form an ideal enclosure for high resolution TEM imaging.
Historically, the delicate handling methods of graphene have created a major hurdle to implementing GLC imaging in laboratories. The Vitrotem Naiad system overcomes this hurdle by automating the preparation of graphene liquid cells using contaminant-free, single-layer graphene to fully cover the area of any TEM grid. In this presentation, Dr. Van Deursen will showcase pioneering applications of Naiad-made graphene liquid cells in a wide range of fields—from single particle imaging to calcium mineralization in bone fibrils.
In this presentation, we will showcase the application of graphene liquid cells in a wide range of early adopting fields, including biomineralization in bone. In collagen fibrils, the biomineralization of calcium is studied using GLC-based liquid phase electron microscopy combined with plunge-freezing. Graphene liquid cells are cryo-frozen to preserve the pristine state of the sample during insertion into the microscope and first characterization. Then, the GLCs are thawed in situ to start the calcium mineralization. This methodology provides control over the starting point of reactions in sealed-off liquid cells.