title: Transmission electron microscopy of mercury metal.
abstract: Transmission electron microcopy (TEM) analysis of liquid metals, especially mercury (Hg), is difficult to carry out because their specimen preparation poses a daunting task due to the unique surface properties of these metals. This paper reports a cryoTEM study on Hg using a novel specimen preparation technique. Hg metal is mixed with water using sonication and quenched in liquid ethane cryogen. This technique permits research into the morphological, phase and structural properties of Hg at nanoscale dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Imaging and Characterization Lab King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dalaver H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.affiliation: Imaging and Characterization Lab King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sougrat
keywords: HRTEM; cryoTEM; faceting; liquid metals; nanoparticles; phase transitions