TEM Liquid Flow │Hummingbird Scientific

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, self-aligning windows, and stable imaging without drift correction. This simplifies the hardware learning curve, 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.

‍

Engineering Capabilities Custom Solutions

Built for Diverse Research Applications

Battery Materials

Directly visualize battery cycling, ion transport, dendrite formation, interface evolution, and structural changes.

Charge-Discharge Cycling

Bio/Soft Materials

Visualize biological and soft matter systems dynamics, including growth, interactions, and degradation.

Biomineralization

Self-Assembly Processes

Metal-Organic Framework Dynamics

Soft Matter Dynamics

Biomolecular Interactions

Catalysis

Directly observe the mechanisms that drive catalyst activity, selectivity, and degradation.

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Structure-Performance Relationship

Catalyst Structural Transformations

Catalyst Chemical Transformations

Catalyst Redox

Electrochemistry

Study electrodeposition, electrocatalysis, corrosion mechanisms, and electrochemical interface evolution.

Cyclic Voltammetry (CV)

Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV)

Chronoamperometry (CA)

Chronopotentiometry (CP)

Electrochemical Impedance (EIS)

Explore more applications of this product →

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.

L. Parent, V. Presser, Y. Gogotsi, R.R. Unocic, R.L. Sacci, J.E. Evans, N.D. Browning, E.D. Perre, B. Dunn, I. Arlan. “Direct Observation of Pseudocapacitor Electrode Behavior During Electrochemical Biasing using in-situ Liquid Stage Electron Microscopy”. Microscopy and Microanalysis (2013)

Abstract

Meng Gu, Lucas R. Parent, B. Layla Mehdi, Raymond R. Unocic, Matthew T. McDowell, Robert L. Sacci, Wu Xu, Justin Grant Connell, Pinghong Xu, Patricia Abellan, Xilin Chen, Yaohui Zhang, Daniel E. Perea, James E. Evans, Lincoln J. Lauhon, Ji-Guang Zhang, Jun Liu, Nigel D. Browning, Yi Cui, Ilke Arslan, Chong-Min Wang. “Demonstration of an Electrochemical Liquid Cell for Operando Transmission Electron Microscopy Observation of the Lithiation/Delithiation Behavior of Si Nanowire Battery Anodes”. Nano Letters (2013)

Abstract

Guomin Zhu, Yingying Jiang, Wei Huang, Hui Zhang, Fang Lin, Chuanhong Jin. “Atomic resolution liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy investigations of the dynamics of nanoparticles in ultrathin liquids”. Chemical Communications (2013)

Abstract

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Key Features and Capabilities

Add-ons

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

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.

‍

Hummingbird Connect Control Software

Related Products

TEM Liquid Flow

In-situ TEM Liquid Flow sample holder

Investigate Solid-liquid and Liquid-liquid Interfacial Transformations Inside your TEM with In-Situ Imaging of Nanoscale Dynamics

Overview

How it Works

Features

Publications

FAQ

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

Built on Engineering Excellence

Built for Diverse Research Applications

Battery Materials

Bio/Soft Materials

Catalysis

Electrochemistry

High Impact Publications

Key Features and Capabilities

Add-ons

How it Works

Software

Related Products

TEM Liquid Flow

SEM Liquid Flow

X-ray Liquid Flow

Frequently Asked Questions