NEWSLETTER Winter 2026
Protochips
In situ Liquid Cell TEM: Why study nanomaterial synthesis in the TEM? Understanding nanomaterial synthesis processes is critical for designing advanced materials for applications in electronics, energy storage, and catalysis. However, processes such as Ostwald ripening, nucleation and growth and self-assembly have not been fully visualized at the nanometer scale.
Techniques like transmission electron microscopy (TEM) enable high-resolution imaging of growth dynamics, structural changes, and defect formation in real time and at the nanometer scale. By using nanoscale analysis methods, researchers can gain insights into the mechanisms driving nanomaterial formation, refine synthesis processes, and accelerate the development of next-generation materials with enhanced performance. The need to observe nanomaterial synthesis in real-time has grown significantly in recent years. In particular, in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the liquid phase has gained interest, as it allows the synthesis process to be visualized at the nanometer scale. The Poseidon AX system from Protochips uses a closed cell setup to perform in situ liquid-phase TEM. This system leverages micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices to contain a thin liquid layer without the risk of leakage into the microscope. These MEMS devices also apply stimuli, such as heating, while enabling highresolution imaging to monitor the synthesis in real time.