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A double tilt cryoholder for ultra high resolution transmission electron microscopy at low temperatures (Cool-HRTEM)
Start date: Nov 1, 2012, End date: Dec 31, 2013 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The transmission electron microscope (TEM) is an essential instrument facilitating studies of the nanoscale material structure at sub-1Å resolution for R&D in the area of materials science, nanoscience and nanotechnology. In order to access the highly relevant temperature range between 77 K and room temperature, special specimen cryoholders need to be used that allow for a double tilt of the specimen under study. However, it is impossible to make images with sub-1Å resolution with the existing commercial double-tilt cryoholders. This is due to effects of thermal gradient-induced drift and mechanical vibrations. As part of my ERC Advanced Grant I have pioneered single-tilt cryoholders with electrical feedthroughs that largely overcome these problems, resulting in sub-1Å high resolution TEM at ~100 K in at least 15% of the images that are recorded. With this proposal, I wish to take these advances towards a proof of concept for a double-tilt cryoholder that allows sub-1Å high-resolution TEM in at least 80% of the recordings at any temperature between 77 K and 300 K and represents a user-friendly standard technique with commercial potential. I plan to make these holders available to researchers at similar price levels of currently available holders. Based on my acknowledged track record in developing microscopy innovations, I have drafted a plan to prototype this invention. I will seek an industrial partner to perform a design cycle for real production, and next produce the holders.
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