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Hummingbird Scientific in-situ sample holders enable real-time, atomic-resolution characterization of nanomaterials nucleation and growth processes, directly linking formation pathways to final structure, morphology, and functional properties. Perform multi-modal TEM, SEM, and X-ray experiments across gas, liquid, and vacuum environments, with closed-loop temperature control to over 1000 °C to capture nucleation, phase transformations, and reaction kinetics. Every Hummingbird holder is developed for performance, reproducibility, and ease of use. Scroll down to explore the types of synthesis experiments made possible by these holders.
Studying catalytic mechanisms requires understanding how materials behave during reactions, where structure, chemistry, and performance continuously evolve. These processes must be observed under realistic reaction environments, while conventional electron microscopy is often limited to pre- or post-reaction analysis, making it difficult to capture these dynamic processes.
In-situ and operando TEM enable direct observation under working conditions. Hummingbird Scientific extends this capability with stable imaging across gas, liquid, and electrochemical environments, and experiments at up to 2 bar and above 1000 °C, allowing catalysts to be studied under realistic conditions with high reproducibility.
Observe catalyst restructuring, degradation, and active-site evolution during reactions under operando conditions, overcoming the limitations of post-reaction analysis and enabling direct identification of activity and deactivation mechanisms.
Correlate nanoscale structure with catalytic activity and selectivity during reactions, linking morphology, composition, and oxidation state directly to performance, which are otherwise difficult to resolve without real-time observation.
Study catalysts under controlled gas and liquid environments at elevated temperatures with stable imaging performance, ensuring behavior can be observed under realistic conditions rather than approximated.
Capture dynamic structural and chemical changes during reactions, including restructuring, phase transformations, and active-site evolution, which are often not accessible through static or ex-situ analysis.
Biomineralization Processes
Under continuous liquid flow and/or mixing
Investigate how biominerals grow and evolve under hydrated conditions using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Capturing the formation and evolution of dense liquid phase of calcium (bi) carbonate
In situ liquid-phase TEM captured nonclassical calcium (bi)carbonate nucleation via a transient, highly hydrated dense liquid phase (DLP), resolving its formation and transformation in real time.
Reference: Biao Jin, et al, Nat. Mater. 24, 125–132 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-02025-5
Image copyright © 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Limited
Dissolution-renucleation processes
In-situ liquid phase imaging
Observe materials transformation via dissolution-renucleation processes under liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Size-focusing of Au nanoparticles (NPs) via liquid-phase dissolution-renucleation process
Transformation of polydispersed Au nanoparticles into monodisperse sub-10 nm particles was observed in the presence of thiol ligands via in-situ liquid phase TEM.
Reference: Wenhui Wang, et al, Small Methods 9, 11, e01033 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202501033
Image copyright © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH
Growth and Shape Evolution of Nanocrystals
In controlled in-situ liquid environments
Watch nanoscale crystals nucleate, grow, and evolve in real time within liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Growth and shape evolution of gold decahedral nanocrystals
In-situ liquid-phase TEM was used to visualize the growth and shape evolution of gold nanocrystals, while systematically varying electron dose, precursor concentration, and ligand chemistry.
Reference: Xiaoming Ma, et al, ACS Nano 19, 43, 38173-38183 (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c15982
Image copyright © 2025 American Chemical Society
Gas Phase Growth of Nanomaterials
In-situ at temperatures >1000 ºC
Observe real time growth of nanomaterials under gas environments using Hummingbird Scientific gas heating sample holders.
In-situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nanofibers (CNF)
The effect of different Fe-based alloy catalyst systems on in-situ atmospheric pressure CVD of CNTs and CNFs was characterized.
Reference: Andrew C. Meng, et al, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 43, 040601 (2025). DOI: 10.1116/6.0004664
Image copyright © 2026 AIP Publishing LLC
Nanoparticle self-assembly processes
Track particle lattice growth in real time
Track self-assembly processes under liquid environments in real time using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Phonon dynamics in self-assembled gold nanoparticles (NPs)
Maxwell lattices obtained by self-assembly of gold NPs were used to resolve phonon dynamics using liquid phase TEM.
Reference: Chang Qian, et al, Nat. Mater. 24, 1616–1625 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-025-02253-3
Image copyright © 2025 Springer Nature Limited
Growth of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
From nucleation to complete synthesis
Observe real time growth and dynamics of MOFs under liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Formation and growth of metal NP@MOF hybrid nanostructures
Encapsulation of Au NPs by zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was visualized by in-situ liquid phase TEM at ultra-low electron-flux.
Reference: Guoming Lin & Utkur Mirsaidov, Adv. Sci. 12, 25, 2500984 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202500984
Image from Advanced Science under the Creative Commons license
Electrochemical Growth
Controlled biasing in liquids
Observe real time electrochemical growth processes in liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific Generation V bulk liquid-electrochemistry sample holders.
Repeatable Cu nanocube electrochemical growth–dissolution cycles visualized via in-situ liquid SEM
Reversible growth and dissolution of Cu nanocubes (NCs) was captured via in-situ liquid phase SEM, directly correlating redox cycling with morphological evolution.
Reference: Philipp Grosse, et al, J. Phys. Chem. C 124, 49, 26908-26915 (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c09105
Image from The Journal of Physical Chemistry C under the Creative Commons license
Temperature Dependent Crystal Growth
Liquid phase heating over 300 ºC
Probe temperature-dependent growth mechanisms and kinetics in liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid heating sample holders.
Ag nanocrystal growth rates and morphology at different temperatures
Growth of Ag nanocrystals during electron beam exposure of silver nitrate at temperatures 25-70 °C was observed using in-situ liquid phase TEM.
Reference: Serin Lee, et al, ACS Nano 17, 6, 5609-5619 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c11477
Image copyright © 2023 American Chemical Society
Low dimensional materials synthesis
Vacuum heating >1000 ºC
Visualize real-time synthesis of low dimensional materials in vacuum using Hummingbird Scientific MEMS heating + biasing holders.
2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanocrystal synthesis in rapidly heated van der Waals heterostructures
Sub-10 nm 2D nanocrystals were synthesized using ultrafast migration of vacancies during non-equilibrium thermolysis of 2D material flakes.
Reference: Pawan Kumar, et al, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 15, 51, 59693-59703 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c13471
Image copyright © 2023 American Chemical Society
Biomineralization Processes
Under continuous liquid flow and/or mixing
Investigate how biominerals grow and evolve under hydrated conditions using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Capturing the formation and evolution of dense liquid phase of calcium (bi) carbonate
In situ liquid-phase TEM captured nonclassical calcium (bi)carbonate nucleation via a transient, highly hydrated dense liquid phase (DLP), resolving its formation and transformation in real time.
Reference: Biao Jin, et al, Nat. Mater. 24, 125–132 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-02025-5
Image copyright © 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Limited
Dissolution-renucleation processes
In-situ liquid phase imaging
Observe materials transformation via dissolution-renucleation processes under liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Size-focusing of Au nanoparticles (NPs) via liquid-phase dissolution-renucleation process
Transformation of polydispersed Au nanoparticles into monodisperse sub-10 nm particles was observed in the presence of thiol ligands via in-situ liquid phase TEM.
Reference: Wenhui Wang, et al, Small Methods 9, 11, e01033 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202501033
Image copyright © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH
Growth and Shape Evolution of Nanocrystals
In controlled in-situ liquid environments
Watch nanoscale crystals nucleate, grow, and evolve in real time within liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Growth and shape evolution of gold decahedral nanocrystals
In-situ liquid-phase TEM was used to visualize the growth and shape evolution of gold nanocrystals, while systematically varying electron dose, precursor concentration, and ligand chemistry.
Reference: Xiaoming Ma, et al, ACS Nano 19, 43, 38173-38183 (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5c15982
Image copyright © 2025 American Chemical Society
Gas Phase Growth of Nanomaterials
In-situ at temperatures >1000 ºC
Observe real time growth of nanomaterials under gas environments using Hummingbird Scientific gas heating sample holders.
In-situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nanofibers (CNF)
The effect of different Fe-based alloy catalyst systems on in-situ atmospheric pressure CVD of CNTs and CNFs was characterized.
Reference: Andrew C. Meng, et al, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 43, 040601 (2025). DOI: 10.1116/6.0004664
Image copyright © 2026 AIP Publishing LLC
Nanoparticle self-assembly processes
Track particle lattice growth in real time
Track self-assembly processes under liquid environments in real time using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Phonon dynamics in self-assembled gold nanoparticles (NPs)
Maxwell lattices obtained by self-assembly of gold NPs were used to resolve phonon dynamics using liquid phase TEM.
Reference: Chang Qian, et al, Nat. Mater. 24, 1616–1625 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-025-02253-3
Image copyright © 2025 Springer Nature Limited
Growth of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
From nucleation to complete synthesis
Observe real time growth and dynamics of MOFs under liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holders.
Formation and growth of metal NP@MOF hybrid nanostructures
Encapsulation of Au NPs by zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) was visualized by in-situ liquid phase TEM at ultra-low electron-flux.
Reference: Guoming Lin & Utkur Mirsaidov, Adv. Sci. 12, 25, 2500984 (2025). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202500984
Image from Advanced Science under the Creative Commons license
Electrochemical Growth
Controlled biasing in liquids
Observe real time electrochemical growth processes in liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific Generation V bulk liquid-electrochemistry sample holders.
Repeatable Cu nanocube electrochemical growth–dissolution cycles visualized via in-situ liquid SEM
Reversible growth and dissolution of Cu nanocubes (NCs) was captured via in-situ liquid phase SEM, directly correlating redox cycling with morphological evolution.
Reference: Philipp Grosse, et al, J. Phys. Chem. C 124, 49, 26908-26915 (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c09105
Image from The Journal of Physical Chemistry C under the Creative Commons license
Temperature Dependent Crystal Growth
Liquid phase heating over 300 ºC
Probe temperature-dependent growth mechanisms and kinetics in liquid environments using Hummingbird Scientific liquid heating sample holders.
Ag nanocrystal growth rates and morphology at different temperatures
Growth of Ag nanocrystals during electron beam exposure of silver nitrate at temperatures 25-70 °C was observed using in-situ liquid phase TEM.
Reference: Serin Lee, et al, ACS Nano 17, 6, 5609-5619 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c11477
Image copyright © 2023 American Chemical Society
Low dimensional materials synthesis
Vacuum heating >1000 ºC
Visualize real-time synthesis of low dimensional materials in vacuum using Hummingbird Scientific MEMS heating + biasing holders.
2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanocrystal synthesis in rapidly heated van der Waals heterostructures
Sub-10 nm 2D nanocrystals were synthesized using ultrafast migration of vacancies during non-equilibrium thermolysis of 2D material flakes.
Reference: Pawan Kumar, et al, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 15, 51, 59693-59703 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c13471
Image copyright © 2023 American Chemical Society
Vacuum heating >1000 ºC
Liquid phase heating over 300 ºC
Controlled biasing in liquids
From nucleation to complete synthesis
Track particle lattice growth in real time
In-situ at temperatures >1000 ºC
In controlled in-situ liquid environments
In-situ liquid phase imaging
Under continuous liquid flow and/or mixing
Observing nanoparticle self-assembly under liquid environment
Understanding how mechanical properties emerge at the nanoscale is key to advancing programmable materials. In self-assembled nanoparticle systems, lattice geometry and interparticle interactions give rise to topological mechanics linking deformation, floppy modes, and phonon-like dynamics. In liquid environments, thermally driven fluctuations enable reconfigurable lattices and measurable nanoscale mechanical responses. The Hummingbird Scientific liquid flow sample holder enables stable, real-time imaging of these processes in solution, providing the environmental control and resolution required to track particle motion, visualize lattice evolution, and quantify emergent mechanical behavior in situ.
The video shows the real-time self-assembly of a rhombic Maxwell lattice from colloidal gold nanocubes, captured using in-situ liquid-phase TEM. Individual particles were tracked with high spatial and temporal resolution, with centroid positions (yellow) and the reconstructed bond network overlaid to reveal how local interactions drive long-range order. Subtle lattice distortions, including rhombus tilting, highlight the system’s dynamic mechanical behavior. Scale bars: 300 nm.
Hummingbird Advantages
Reference: Chang Qian, et al, Nat. Mater. 24, 1616–1625 (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-025-02253-3
Movie copyright © 2025 Springer Nature Limited
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