Cool-HRTEM · A double tilt cryoholder for ultra high resolution transmission electron microscopy at low temperatures

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.