Dynamic imaging of colloidal-crystal nanostructures at 200 frames per second.
The dynamic noninvasive imaging of colloidal nanostructures has been precluded by the diffraction-limited resolution of (confocal) light microscopy. Using Fast Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy, we demonstrate the ability to resolve the formation of a colloidal crystal (monolayer) from particles of 200 nm size, where the voids in the crystal are as small as 30 nm. With a temporal resolution of 5 ms, we exemplify the technique by visualizing the annealing of potential point defects during the formation of the colloidal crystal.
Lauterbach
Marcel A
MA
Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Am Fassberg 11, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Ullal
Chaitanya K
CK
Westphal
Volker
V
Hell
Stefan W
SW
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
D003102:Colloids