title: Picoliter Drop-On-Demand Dispensing for Multiplex Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy.
abstract: Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (LCTEM) provides a unique insight into the dynamics of nanomaterials in solution. Controlling the addition of multiple solutions to the liquid cell remains a key hurdle in our ability to increase throughput and to study processes dependent on solution mixing including chemical reactions. Here, we report that a piezo dispensing technique allows for mixing of multiple solutions directly within the viewing area. This technique permits deposition of 50 pL droplets of various aqueous solutions onto the liquid cell window, before assembly of the cell in a fully controlled manner. This proof-of-concept study highlights the great potential of picoliter dispensing in combination with LCTEM for observing nanoparticle mixing in the solution phase and the creation of chemical gradients.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,University of California San Diego,La Jolla,CA 92093,USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,University of California San Diego,La Jolla,CA 92093,USA.
authors.forename: Lucas R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.affiliation: 2SCIENION AG,Volmerstr. 7a,12489 Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cantlon
authors.affiliation: 2SCIENION AG,Volmerstr. 7a,12489 Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eickhoff
authors.affiliation: 2SCIENION AG,Volmerstr. 7a,12489 Berlin,Germany.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bared
authors.affiliation: 3Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory,Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,3335 Innovation Blvd.,Richland,WA 99354,USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry,University of California San Diego,La Jolla,CA 92093,USA.
authors.forename: Nathan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Gianneschi
keywords: TEM sample preparation; dispensing organic non-organic solutions; grid loading; liquid cell transmission electron microscopy