In situ transmission electron microscopy studies of nanomaterials’ structure-property relationships (review article)

摘要

In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-based experiments have shown to be powerful and reliable waysto study nanomaterials. By combining high-resolution TEM characterization and property measurements on aunique platform, scientists can get deep insights of structure-property relationship at the nanoscale. Moderndedicated TEM holders with precise manipulating capability have opened a new realm of possibilities of whatcan be done under the microscope. This paper aims to highlights the past, present and future of these excitingmethods based on in situ TEM in the last decade. The topics of interest include tensile testing of carbon nanotubes,compression testing of nanostructures, and phase transformations in metallic nanoparticles. The key points of allexperiments discussed are that the measurement data are acquired on an individual nanostructure level underultimately high spatial resolution achievable in TEM, and thus can directly be linked to the dynamic structural andphysical states of a given nanomaterial. The success of these in situ TEM based analysis should clear updiscrepancies in experimental data obtained from indirect measurements of nanomaterials’ properties in literature,and allow engineers to design new devices/products corresponding to the real nanomaterials’ potentials.