Titan ETEM

Dynamic in situ exploration of nanomaterials at the atomic scale with variable gas pressures and temperatures

The Titan™ ETEM  [PDF 458KB] is the ultimate in situ high resolution electron microscope to study dynamic behavior of chemical reactions under the influence of variable temperatures and gas pressures at the atomic level.

The innovative E-cell technology in the objective lens pole piece allows in situ S/TEM gas experiments with a mixture of up to four gas inlets with preset partial pressure up to 2 kPa (20 mbar, 15 torr). This unique capability can be combined with the image C_s-corrector and monochromator technology of FEI to explore the dynamic behavior of the morphology, structure, composition and bonding of nanomaterials down to the atomic level.

The Titan ETEM Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)  is equipped with a gas mixing unit and a mass spectrometer to control and determine the gas composition at the specimen, which permits full control of in situ experiments and gives detailed information of the gases in the microscope. Additionally, a built-in plasma cleaner allows for cleaning the column after gas experiments. The Titan ETEM in non ETEM mode has the same lateral S/TEM resolution and energy resolution specifications as a Titan 60-300 without ETEM technology. Therefore, it is a flexible tool that is not solely dedicated to in situ applications. The system is based on the world class modular Titan technology in mechanical, electronic and thermal stability and is designed to deliver the ultimate performance in all TEM, STEM, energy filtered TEM (EFTEM), diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) modes. The flexibility of operating the Titan 60-300 in the voltage range of 60 to 300 kV, allows this important parameter to be optimized to the requirements of the material examined, from ultra-light carbon compounds to ultra-dense heavy metal materials.

Combining all of these enhancements in one, easy to use instrument enables you to explore the dynamic behavior of the nanoworld, and helps you to expand your boundaries with new pioneering scientific results.

• Dynamically study in situ gas-solid and gas-liquid reactions with different temperatures in S/TEM at the atomic level
• Determine phase diagrams of nanomaterials as a function of temperature and gas pressure
• Improve the quality of catalytic particles by understanding their function in gas reactions, and analyze the changes in gas composition with a mass spectrometer
• Study phase transitions in situ on the atomic level
• Synthesize new nanomaterials
• Initiate chemical reactions and study their behavior in situ
• Explore new nanomaterials by creating materials and nanostructures in situ
• Maximize the lifetime of unstable materials by using partial gas pressures during S/TEM examination
• Improve the lateral resolution in your in situ experiments with image C_s-corrector technology and full double tilted capability of the specimen holder

Titan™ ETEM Applications

Electron microscopy can provide more than just static observations and high resolution characterization of materials. We introduce a unique transmission electron microscope, the Titan ETEM, specifically designed for 'environmental' in situ studies of dynamic processes, permitting gases to be present in the region of the specimen as well as elevated temperatures. This exciting development enables the in situ dynamic synthesis and reaction of materials in the TEM, allowing us to directly access chemical information, growth kinetics and catalytic processes, for example, using both imaging and spectroscopic techniques at ultra-high resolution. This allows a deep understanding of the mechanisms of reactions and identification of intermediate products at the nanoscale, even down to the atomic level.

Catalyst interface dynamics during Silicon nanowire growth

With permission, Hofmann et al (2008) Nature Materials 7 

The following videos are used with permission, courtesy of S. Takeda and H. Yoshida, Osaka University, Japan