CHIPNOVA CNT-SHE In Situ Liquid Heating & Electrical Biasing TEM Holder
| Brand | CHIPNOVA |
|---|---|
| Origin | Fujian, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Direct Manufacturer |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Model | CNT-SHE |
| Application Category | In Situ Liquid TEM |
| Primary Application Field | Catalysis |
| Instrument Class | In Situ TEM Sample Holder |
Overview
The CHIPNOVA CNT-SHE In Situ Liquid Heating & Electrical Biasing TEM Holder is an engineered solution for real-time, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation of dynamic nanoscale processes in liquid environments under controlled thermal and electrical stimuli. Designed for integration with standard double-tilt or single-tilt TEM holders (compatible with JEOL, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Hitachi TEM platforms), the CNT-SHE enables simultaneous application of precise temperature gradients (via integrated microheaters) and tunable electrical bias (up to ±5 V DC, with current monitoring capability) across nanofluidic cells sealed by electron-transparent silicon nitride (SiNx) membranes. Its operational principle relies on a robust, low-drift thermoelectric architecture combined with low-noise electrical feedthroughs, allowing uninterrupted imaging during catalytic reactions, electrochemical nucleation, or nanoparticle growth—all while maintaining sub-5 nm spatial resolution under 200–300 kV acceleration voltage.
Key Features
- Integrated dual-function design: simultaneous liquid encapsulation, resistive heating (range: ambient to 200 °C, stability ±1 °C), and DC electrical biasing (±5 V, <100 pA leakage current)
- Hermetically sealed nanofluidic cell with 50 nm-thick SiNx windows (100 × 100 µm active area) optimized for high electron transparency and mechanical stability
- On-chip Pt thin-film temperature sensors with real-time feedback loop for closed-loop thermal control
- Low-outgassing, UHV-compatible construction (base pressure <1×10−8 mbar) meeting TEM column vacuum requirements
- Modular electrical interface with SMA connectors and shielded coaxial wiring to minimize electromagnetic interference during biasing
- Compatibility with standard Gatan, Protochips, and custom TEM holder geometries via adaptable mounting flange
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The CNT-SHE accommodates aqueous and non-aqueous electrolyte solutions (e.g., H2O, ethanol, LiPF6/EC:DMC) with volumes of 10–50 nL per cell. It supports catalyst dispersions including Pt, Pd, Ni, and metal oxide nanoparticles (1–50 nm), as well as 2D materials (graphene oxide, MXenes) suspended in situ. The system conforms to ISO/IEC 17025 general requirements for calibration competence and aligns with ASTM E2941–21 guidelines for in situ TEM experimental reporting. All materials contacting the liquid phase are certified biocompatible and leach-free per USP Class VI standards; the holder assembly is documented for GLP-compliant experiment traceability.
Software & Data Management
CHIPNOVA provides the SHE-Control Suite—a cross-platform (Windows/macOS/Linux), Python-extendable GUI for synchronized parameter logging (temperature, voltage, current, time-stamped image metadata). The software supports automated ramp/hold protocols, real-time PID tuning, and export of timestamp-aligned CSV and HDF5 datasets. Audit trails include user authentication, parameter change history, and digital signatures—enabling compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements for regulated research environments. Integration with DigitalMicrograph™ (Gatan) and Velox™ (Thermo Fisher) is achieved via standardized plugin APIs for trigger-based acquisition synchronization.
Applications
- In situ tracking of heterogeneous catalytic mechanisms (e.g., CO oxidation on Au/TiO2, oxygen evolution reaction on NiFe LDH)
- Electrochemical solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation dynamics in battery electrode slurries
- Thermally driven Ostwald ripening and coalescence of colloidal nanocrystals
- Electric-field-assisted alignment and self-assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles
- Real-time structural evolution of single-atom catalysts under operando conditions
FAQ
What is the maximum operating temperature and thermal ramp rate?
The CNT-SHE achieves stable operation up to 200 °C with a maximum ramp rate of 10 °C/s (configurable via software limits).
Can the holder be used for cryo-liquid experiments?
No—the CNT-SHE is specifically engineered for heating and biasing applications; it does not support cryogenic cooling. For low-temperature liquid studies, CHIPNOVA offers the CRYO-LIQ series.
Is the SiNx window compatible with EELS and EDX analysis?
Yes—the 50 nm SiNx membrane exhibits minimal background signal in both EELS and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, enabling quantitative elemental mapping of liquid-phase reaction intermediates.
How is electrical isolation maintained during high-magnification imaging?
All bias lines are grounded through TEM column ground reference points and filtered using π-type RF filters; differential measurements suppress common-mode noise below 1 nV/√Hz above 1 kHz.
Does CHIPNOVA provide validation data for catalytic reaction quantification?
Yes—application notes include benchmark datasets for CO oxidation kinetics on supported Pt nanoparticles, with correlation to ex situ XRD and XPS results, available upon request under NDA.
