Atomic resolution imaging of hexagonal water ice
Gatan instrument used
The Metro® 300 camera enables low-dose imaging and diffraction at low kV via real-time electron counting with a simple user interface. The model 626 Liquid Nitrogen Cryo-Transfer Holder enables frost-free low-temperature specimen transfer and subsequent imaging of radiation-sensitive frozen samples at high resolution with precise temperature measurement.
Background
Hexagonal water ice (Ih) crystallization is an essential process in Earth’s atmosphere, the food industry, biomedical cryopreservation, and transportation safety. Real-space imaging of ice at the nanoscale remains challenging because of the harsh conditions required for high-resolution imaging and the low stability of water ice. However, elucidating the molecular origins of defects, cavities, and complex microstructures in ice will aid in understanding the thermodynamics, phase transformations, and mechanical properties of water ice.