Nanoparticles are materials that are made of tiny particles, typically ranging in size from 1 to 100 nanometers. These materials have a wide range of potential applications, including in medicine, electronics, and energy storage. However, the ability to control the growth of nanoparticles has been limited by the lack of tools that allow scientists to study their formation in real time.
The new technology, called "in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy," uses a transmission electron microscope to image nanoparticles as they grow inside a liquid droplet. The technology allows scientists to directly observe the growth process, and to track the changes that occur in the nanoparticles over time.
The researchers used the new technology to study the formation of gold nanoparticles. They observed that the nanoparticles grew by a process called "Ostwald ripening," in which smaller nanoparticles dissolve and redeposit on larger nanoparticles. The researchers were also able to control the size and shape of the nanoparticles by changing the temperature and concentration of the solution.
The new technology is expected to have a broad impact on the field of nanomaterials research. It could help scientists to better understand the formation and growth of nanomaterials, and to design new materials with specific properties.
The research was published in the journal Nature Materials.
