Cryogenic‐temperature electron microscopy direct imaging of carbon nanotubes and graphene solutions in superacids

Kleinerman, Olga; Parra-Vasquez, A. Nicholas G.; Green, M.J.; Behabtu, Natnael; Schmidt, Judith; Kesselman, Ellina; Young, Colin C.; Cohen, Yachin; Pasquali, Matteo; Talmon, Yeshayahu

doi:10.1111/jmi.12243

Cited by 20 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Ramesh et al reported a direct protonation of CNTs using superacids, and an optically homogeneous solution with concentration as high as 2.5 wt% at room temperature has been observed in the case of chlorosulfonic acid. Other superacids such as H 2 SO 4 , oleum, and trifluromethanesulfonic acid can also be used to obtain well‐dispersed CNT solution . (iii) Metal NWs, especially Ag NWs, are considered as the most promising candidate yet for replacing ITO among various emerging TCF materials .…”

Section: Ink Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Printable Transparent Conductive Films for Flexible Electronics

et al. 2018

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Printed electronics are an important enabling technology for the development of low-cost, large-area, and flexible optoelectronic devices. Transparent conductive films (TCFs) made from solution-processable transparent conductive materials, such as metal nanoparticles/nanowires, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and conductive polymers, can simultaneously exhibit high mechanical flexibility, low cost, and better photoelectric properties compared to the commonly used sputtered indium-tin-oxide-based TCFs, and are thus receiving great attention. This Review summarizes recent advances of large-area flexible TCFs enabled by several roll-to-roll-compatible printed techniques including inkjet printing, screen printing, offset printing, and gravure printing using the emerging transparent conductive materials. The preparation of TCFs including ink formulation, substrate treatment, patterning, and postprocessing, and their potential applications in solar cells, organic light-emitting diodes, and touch panels are discussed in detail. The rational combination of a variety of printed techniques with emerging transparent conductive materials is believed to extend the opportunities for the development of printed electronics within the realm of flexible electronics and beyond.

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Section: Ink Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Printable Transparent Conductive Films for Flexible Electronics

et al. 2018

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“… 2015 259 16 25 . 3 Application of cryo-EM at the extreme conditions of solution in “super acids” such as chlorosulfonic acid . 3 Micrograph Contrast in Low-Voltage SEM and Cryo-SEM Liberman L. Kleinerman O.…”

Section: Key Referencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 2015 259 16 25 . 3 Application of cryo-EM at the extreme conditions of solution in “super acids” such as chlorosulfonic acid . 3 …”

Section: Key Referencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extending Cryo-EM to Nonaqueous Liquid Systems

Ya’akobi

Talmon

2021

Acc. Chem. Res.

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Conspectus Cryogenic-temperature transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) of aqueous systems has become a widely used methodology, especially in the study of biological systems and synthetic aqueous systems, such as amphiphile and polymer solutions. Cryogenic-temperature scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), while not as widely used as cryo-TEM, is also found in many laboratories of basic and applied research. The application of these methodologies, referred to collectively as cryogenic-temperature electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for direct nanostructural studies of nonaqueous liquid systems is much more limited, although such systems are important in basic research and are found in a very large spectrum of commercial applications. The study of nonaqueous liquid systems by cryo-EM poses many technical challenges. Specimen preparation under controlled conditions of air saturation around the specimen cannot be performed by the currently available commercial system, and the most effective cryogen, freezing ethane, cannot be used for most such liquid systems. Imaging is often complicated by low micrograph contrast and high sensitivity of the specimens to the electron beam. At the beginning of this Account, we describe the basic principles of cryo-EM, emphasizing factors that are essential for successful direct imaging by cryo-TEM and cryo-SEM. We discuss the peculiarities of nonaqueous liquid nanostructured systems when studied with these methodologies and how the technical difficulties in imaging nonaqueous systems, from oil-based to strong acid-based liquids, have been overcome, and the applicability of cryo-TEM and cryo-SEM has been expanded in recent years. Modern cryo-EM has been advanced by a number of instrumental developments, which we describe. In the TEM, these include improved electron field emission guns (FEGs) and microscope optics, the Volta phase plate to enhance image contrast by converting phase differences to amplitude differences without the loss of resolution by an objective lens strong underfocus, and highly sensitive image cameras that allow the recording of TEM images with minimal electron exposure. In the SEM, we take advantage of improved FEGs that allow imaging at a low (around 1 kV) electron acceleration voltage that is essential for high-resolution imaging and for avoiding specimen charging of uncoated nonconductive specimens, better optics, and a variety of sensitive detectors that have considerably improved resolution and, under the proper conditions, give excellent contrast even between elements quite close on the periodic table of the elements, such as the most important oxygen and carbon atoms. Finally we present and analyze several examples from our recent studies, which illustrate the issues presented above, including the remarkable progress made in recent years in this field and the strength and applicability of cryo-EM methodologies.

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“…The use of a CEVS prevents nanostructural changes in the liquid due to changes of temperature and changes in its concentration by evaporation or condensation [ 53 ]. In some cases, specimen preparation should be carried out in an inert atmosphere of dry air or nitrogen [ 60 ]. Commercial systems that follow the original concept of the CEVS are now commercially available in automated versions [ 61 , 62 ].…”

Section: Cryogenic-temperature Electron Microscopymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryogenic Electron Microscopy Methodologies as Analytical Tools for the Study of Self-Assembled Pharmaceutics

Koifman

Talmon

2021

Pharmaceutics

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Many pharmaceutics are aqueous dispersions of small or large molecules, often self-assembled in complexes from a few to hundreds of molecules. In many cases, the dispersing liquid is non-aqueous. Many pharmaceutical preparations are very viscous. The efficacy of those dispersions is in many cases a function of the nanostructure of those complexes or aggregates. To study the nanostructure of those systems, one needs electron microscopy, the only way to obtain nanostructural information by recording direct images whose interpretation is not model-dependent. However, these methodologies are complicated by the need to make liquid systems compatible with high vacuum in electron microscopes. There are also issues related to the interaction of the electron beam with the specimen such as micrograph contrast, electron beam radiation damage, and artifacts associated with specimen preparation. In this article, which is focused on the state of the art of imaging self-assembled complexes, we briefly describe cryogenic temperature transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and cryogenic temperature scanning electron microcopy (cryo-SEM). We present the principles of these methodologies, give examples of their applications as analytical tools for pharmaceutics, and list their limitations and ways to avoid pitfalls in their application.

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Cryogenic‐temperature electron microscopy direct imaging of carbon nanotubes and graphene solutions in superacids

Cited by 20 publications

References 41 publications

Printable Transparent Conductive Films for Flexible Electronics

Printable Transparent Conductive Films for Flexible Electronics

Extending Cryo-EM to Nonaqueous Liquid Systems

Cryogenic Electron Microscopy Methodologies as Analytical Tools for the Study of Self-Assembled Pharmaceutics

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