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Witness material dynamics in a liquid environment at the nanoscale with stabile and precise environmental control

Enclosed Flow Cell Inside the TEM

The TEM Liquid Flow sample holder is the first in-situ liquid-phase TEM platform designed to image nanometer-scale liquid-phase reactions and transformations. Our patented precision-machined chip loading mechanism operates without screws, facilitating reproducible sample loading, window alignment, and stable imaging. This simplifies training, workflows, and micrograph acquisition, guaranteeing reproducible sample preparation and in-situ TEM methodologies.

Advantages:

  • Low-draft sample rod for stable imaging without drift correction
  • Fully user-replaceable liquid tubing for easy cleaning and solution swapping
  • Removable tip for easy cleaning and function upgrades
  • Compatible with TEM, SEM, and X-ray microscopy workflows using cross-platform microfabricated chips.
  • Quick delivery of a broad selection of chip options for uninterrupted experimentation

Designed for Advanced Nanoscale Liquid-phase Dynamics Research

Investigate mechanisms underpinning the dynamics of particle self-assembly, biomineralization and dissolution, corrosion, nanoparticle-MOF structures, temperature-dependent reactions and thin film electrochemistry in liquid environments.

Understand Mechanisms Behind Liquid-Phase Transformations

The transformations that occur at liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces are often nanoscale and highly transient, but nanostructure design is highly dependent on the mechanisms that drive these transformations. The TEM Liquid Flow sample holder applies stimuli such as temperature, electrical bias, light exposure, and liquid mixing to uncover reaction pathways, structural transformations, and degradation mechanisms to develop and characterize the next generation of functional nanostructures.

Technical Specs
1400 series
Number of inlets
1 or 2 depending on model, single outlet
Biasing Contacts
4 on-chip
Tubing Type
User-replaceable microfluidic tubing
Tubing Type Delivery System
Variable speed liquid delivery system
Tip Type
Removable tip
Flow Type
Continuous flow or static liquid
EELS/EDS Compatible
Yes
TEM Compatibility
TFS/FEI, JEOL, Hitachi, Zeiss
Instrument Type
TEM

Available For:

Built on Engineering Excellence

Hummingbird Scientific designs, machines, assembles, tests, and services its products in-house. Our integrated engineering, machining, microfabrication, and applications teams enable rapid product development, custom modifications, and direct technical support throughout the life of the instrument. This vertically integrated approach allows researchers to adapt experimental platforms to unique scientific requirements while maintaining the performance and reliability required for advanced in-situ microscopy experiments.

The TEM Liquid Flow sample holder is a direct result of these capabilities, enabling reproducible true bulk electrochemical measurements combined with in-situ nanoscale imaging.

Need something unique? Our engineers can customize existing products or develop entirely new solutions to support specialized experiments and emerging research challenges.

High Impact Publications

Trusted by researchers worldwide, the Hummingbird Scientific TEM Liquid Flow sample holder has contributed to 30+ peer-reviewed publications from leading universities, national laboratories, and research institutions worldwide in Nature, Science, ACS Nano, Advanced Functional Materials, and other leading journals.

Trevor H. Moser, Tolou Shokuhfar, James E. Evans. “Considerations for imaging thick, low contrast, and beam sensitive samples with liquid cell transmission electron microscopy”. Micron (2019)

Alice Greenberg, Hannah DeVyldere, Jordan Pierce, Benjamin McMorran. “Investigation of mechanical torque applied by electron vortex beams in a liquid cell”. (2018)

Trevor H. Moser, Hardeep Mehta, Chiwoo Park, Ryan T. Kelly, Tolou Shokuhfar, James E. Evans. “The role of electron irradiation history in liquid cell transmission electron microscopy”. Science Advances (2018)

Browse All Publications
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Key Features and Capabilities

Cross-Correlative

Our liquid TEM holder's unique removable holder tip allows for multi-modal, correlative imaging.

Vapor System

Reproducible Screw-Free Liquid-Cell Assembly

Achieve reproducible liquid-cell assembly with self-aligning windows and a screw-free sealing design

Removable and swappable tip

Simplify cleaning with removable and upgradeable holder tips that allow access for tubing replacement

Flexible Liquid Cell Operation

Image samples in continuous-flow or static liquid environments using a sealed microfluidic chip assembly

Multimodal Imaging

Correlate electrochemical, heating, and imaging data across TEM, SEM, and X-ray microscopy platforms

Optimized for EELS and EDS

Perform correlative spectroscopy and microscopy for detailed in-situ elemental analysis

TEM Safety & Seal Verification

Protect your TEM during liquid-cell experiments and streamline setup with rapid high-vacuum seal checking and optical inspection

60+ In-Stock Liquid-Cell TEM Chip Configurations

Keep experiments moving with in-stock liquid-cell TEM chips designed for electrochemistry, liquid flow, heating, and multimodal microscopy workflows

Add-ons

Enhance your in-situ experiments with advanced add-on functionalities

Integrated Liquid Heating

Add temperature-controlled liquid-phase TEM capabilities with homogeneous heating, precise temperature regulation, and near-drift-free in-situ imaging

Dual-Flow Liquid Mixing

Accelerate discovery with dual-flow liquid mixing for in-situ liquid phase TEM, capturing dynamic liquid-liquid reactions with greater control and flexibility

How it Works

The TEM Liquid Flow sample holder integrates a sealed microfluidic cell, user replaceable microfluidic tubing, multi-functional microfabricated substrates, 4 electrical biasing leads, and peripheral control hardware and software into a multi-stimulus liquid-environmental characterization tool. A sample is loaded onto a SiN viewing membrane and sealed inside of the cell. Imaging in the TEM is performed while the solution is circulated through the cell via a microfluidic liquid delivery system. [DA4.1]Dual-inlet tips, biasing leads, and heating/electrochemistry chips enable mixing, thermal, and electrochemical reactions to be imaged in-situ at the nanoscale.

Software

To help you get the most from your liquid-cell holder, Hummingbird Control Software provides intuitive and precise control of closed loop liquid heating. Together, these software solutions enable faster setup, improved reproducibility, and more efficient liquid-phase TEM experiments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a liquid flow TEM sample holder?
How does in-situ TEM thin film electrochemistry compare with benchtop electrochemistry?
What does the software do in an in-situ electron microscopy experiment?
Can EDS and/or EELS be performed during in-situ experiments using the TEM Liquid Flow sample holder?
How is the flow controlled in the TEM Liquid Flow sample holder?
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