Cryo-transmission electron microscopy of Ag nanoparticles grown on an ionic liquid substrate

Anjum, Dalaver H.; Stiger, Rebecca M.; Finley, James J.; Conway, James F.

Cryo-transmission electron microscopy of Ag nanoparticles grown on an ionic liquid substrate

Type

Article

Authors

Anjum, Dalaver H.

Stiger, Rebecca M.
Finley, James J.
Conway, James F.

KAUST Department

Advanced Nanofabrication, Imaging and Characterization Core Lab
Core Labs
Electron Microscopy
Imaging and Characterization Core Lab

Online Publication Date

2011-01-31

Print Publication Date

2010-07

Date

2011-01-31

Abstract

We report a novel method of growing silver nanostructures by cathodic sputtering onto an ionic liquid (IL) and our visualization by transmission cryo-electron microscopy to avoid beam-induced motion of the nanoparticles. By freezing the IL suspension and controlling electron dose, we can assess properties of particle size, morphology, crystallinity, and aggregation in situ and at high detail. We observed round silver nanoparticles with a well-defined diameter of 7.0 ± 1.5 nm that are faceted with crystalline cubic structures and ∼80% of the particles have multiply twinned faults. We also applied cryo-electron tomography to investigate the structure of the nanoparticles and to directly visualize the IL wetting around them. In addition to particles, we observed nanorods that appear to have assembled from individual nanoparticles. Reexamination of the samples after 4-5 days from initial preparation showed significant changes in morphology, and potential mechanisms for this are discussed. © 2010 Materials Research Society.

Citation

Anjum, D. H., Stiger, R. M., Finley, J. J., & Conway, J. F. (2010). Cryo-transmission electron microscopy of Ag nanoparticles grown on an ionic liquid substrate. Journal of Materials Research, 25(7), 1264–1271. doi:10.1557/jmr.2010.0166