Imaging atomic structure in metal nanoparticles using high-resolution cryo-TEM.

It has been shown, by imaging gold (200) planes, that it is possible to achieve better than 0.20-nm structural resolution in cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). This has been done using commercially available cryo equipment and using a 300-kV field emission gun (FEG) TEM. The images of 15-nm gold particles embedded in amorphous frozen water clearly show the (111) planes (separated by 0.235 nm) in gold. Fourier transform demonstrates the presence of (200) planes in the image, proving a resolution of better than 0.20 nm. The experimental results are supported by image simulations using the multislice method. These simulations suggest that it should be possible to achieve the same resolution even in smaller particles and particles of lighter elements. The crucial experimental problem to overcome is keeping the thickness of the amorphous film low and to work at low electron dose conditions.