title: The core contribution of transmission electron microscopy to functional nanomaterials engineering.
abstract: Research on nanomaterials and nanostructured materials is burgeoning because their numerous and versatile applications contribute to solve societal needs in the domain of medicine, energy, environment and STICs. Optimizing their properties requires in-depth analysis of their structural, morphological and chemical features at the nanoscale. In a transmission electron microscope (TEM), combining tomography with electron energy loss spectroscopy and high-magnification imaging in high-angle annular dark-field mode provides access to all features of the same object. Today, TEM experiments in three dimensions are paramount to solve tough structural problems associated with nanoscale matter. This approach allowed a thorough morphological description of silica fibers. Moreover, quantitative analysis of the mesoporous network of binary metal oxide prepared by template-assisted spray-drying was performed, and the homogeneity of amino functionalized metal-organic frameworks was assessed. Besides, the morphology and internal structure of metal phosphide nanoparticles was deciphered, providing a milestone for understanding phase segregation at the nanoscale. By extrapolating to larger classes of materials, from soft matter to hard metals and/or ceramics, this approach allows probing small volumes and uncovering materials characteristics and properties at two or three dimensions. Altogether, this feature article aims at providing (nano)materials scientists with a representative set of examples that illustrates the capabilities of modern TEM and tomography, which can be transposed to their own research.
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Collège de France, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France. clement.sanchez@college-de-france.fr.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carenco
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg (UdS), 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg Cedex 08, France. ersen@ipcms.unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moldovan
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg (UdS), 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg Cedex 08, France. ersen@ipcms.unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Lucian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roiban
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg (UdS), 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg Cedex 08, France. ersen@ipcms.unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Florea
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Collège de France, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France. clement.sanchez@college-de-france.fr.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portehault
authors.affiliation: CEA, DAM, Le Ripault, F-37260 Monts, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vallé
authors.affiliation: CEA, DAM, Le Ripault, F-37260 Monts, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belleville
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Collège de France, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France. clement.sanchez@college-de-france.fr.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boissière
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Collège de France, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France. clement.sanchez@college-de-france.fr.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rozes
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée, Université Paul Sabatier, UMR CNRS 5069, 118, route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mézailles
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg (UdS), 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg Cedex 08, France. ersen@ipcms.unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drillon
authors.affiliation: Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Collège de France, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75005 Paris, France. clement.sanchez@college-de-france.fr.
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), UMR 7504 CNRS-Université de Strasbourg (UdS), 23 rue du Loess, 67037 Strasbourg Cedex 08, France. ersen@ipcms.unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Ovidiu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ersen