Direct Imaging of the Kinetic Crystallization Pathway: Simulation and Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations

The crystallization of materials from a suspension determines the structure and function of the final product, and numerous pieces of evidence have pointed out that the classical crystallization pathway may not capture the whole picture of the crystallization pathways. However, visualizing the initial nucleation and further growth of a crystal at the nanoscale has been challenging due to the difficulties of imaging individual atoms or nanoparticles during the crystallization process in solution. Recent progress in nanoscale microscopy had tackled this problem by monitoring the dynamic structural evolution of crystallization in a liquid environment. In this review, we summarized several crystallization pathways captured by the liquid-phase transmission electron microscopy technique and compared the observations with computer simulation. Apart from the classical nucleation pathway, we highlight three nonclassical pathways that are both observed in experiments and computer simulations: formation of an amorphous cluster below the critical nucleus size, nucleation of the crystalline phase from an amorphous intermediate, and transition between multiple crystalline structures before achieving the final product. Among these pathways, we also highlight the similarities and differences between the experimental results of the crystallization of single nanocrystals from atoms and the assembly of a colloidal superlattice from a large number of colloidal nanoparticles. By comparing the experimental results with computer simulations, we point out the importance of theory and simulation in developing a mechanistic approach to facilitate the understanding of the crystallization pathway in experimental systems. We also discuss the challenges and future perspectives for investigating the crystallization pathways at the nanoscale with the development of in situ nanoscale imaging techniques and potential applications to the understanding of biomineralization and protein self-assembly.

Optimization of a Microwave Polarimeter for Astronomy with Optical Correlation and Detection

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) B-modes detection is the main focus of future CMB experiments because of the valuable information it contains, particularly to probe the physics of the very early universe. For this reason, we have developed an optimized polarimeter demonstrator sensitive to the 10-20 GHz band in which the signal received by each antenna is modulated into a Near Infrared (NIR) laser by a Mach-Zehnder modulator. Then, these modulated signals are optically correlated and detected using photonic back-end modules consisting of voltage-controlled phase shifters, a 90-degree optical hybrid, a pair of lenses, and an NIR camera. During laboratory tests, a 1/f-like noise signal related to the low phase stability of the demonstrator has been found experimentally. To solve this issue, we have developed a calibration method that allows us to remove this noise in an actual experiment, until obtaining the required accuracy level in the measurement of polarization.

Weighted sum of harmonic signals for direct imaging in magnetic particle imaging

Objective.Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a novel radiation-free medical imaging modality that can directly image superparamagnetic iron oxide tracers (SPIOs) with high sensitivity, temporal resolution, and good spatial resolution. The MPI reconstruction task can be formulated mathematically as a Fredholm integral problem, but the concrete inversion is not easily possible because of the particle dynamics or scanner issues. Measurement based system matrix inversion takes these factors into account, but prior measurement and calibration are time consuming.Approach.We proposed a direct imaging method based on the weighted sum of harmonic signals. The harmonic signals with spatial information are obtained by the short-time Fourier transform, and odd harmonic components are selected for recombination and then mapped to the sampling trajectory to image the concentration distribution of SPIOs. In addition, we adopt a normalized-weighted sum of harmonics to improve the resolution of the native image.Main results.The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation imaging experiments and our in-house scanner-based experiments. Quantitative evaluation results show that compared with traditional methods, the structural similarity improved by 48%, mean square error decreased by 88%, and signal-to-artifact ratio increased by 2.5 times.Significance.The proposed method can rapidly image the concentration distribution of nanoparticles without any prior calibration measurements and reduce the blur of MPI images without deconvolution, which has the potential to be implemented as a multi-patch imaging method in MPI.

Direct Measurement of Plant Cellulose Microfibril and Bundles in Native Cell Walls

Plants use rigid cellulose together with non-cellulosic matrix polymers to build cell walls. Cellulose microfibrils comprise linear β(1,4)-glucan chains packed through inter- and intra-chain hydrogen-bonding networks and van der Waals forces. Due to its small size, the number of glucan chains and their arrangement in a microfibril remains elusive. Here we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to directly image primary cell walls (PCWs) and secondary cell walls (SCWs) from fresh tissues of maize (Zea mays) under near-native conditions. By analyzing cellulose structure in different types of cell walls, we were able to measure the individual microfibrils in elongated PCWs at the sub-nanometer scale. The dimension of the microfibril was measured at 3.68 ± 0.13 nm in width and 2.25 ± 0.10 nm in height. By superimposing multiple AFM height profiles of these microfibrils, the overlay area representing the cross-section was estimated at 5.6 ± 0.4 nm2, which fitted well to an 18-chain model packed as six sheets with 234432 conformation. Interestingly we found in PCW, all these individual microfibrils could be traced back to a bundle in larger imaging area, suggesting cellulose are synthesized as large bundles in PCWs, and then split during cell expansion or elongation. In SCWs where cell growth has ceased we observed nearly-parallel twined or individual microfibrils that appeared to be embedded separately in the matrix polymers without the splitting effect, indicating different mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis in PCW and SCW. The sub-nanometer structure of the microfibril presented here was measured exclusively from elongated PCWs, further study is required to verify if it represents the inherent structure synthesized by the cellulose synthase complex in PCWs and SCWs.

Direct Imaging of Individual Molecular Binding to Clean Nanopore Edges in 2D Monolayer MoS2

We use annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM) to study how solution-deposited molecules bind to the edges and surface regions around nanopores in MoS₂ monolayers. Nanopores with clean atomically flat edges and controllable mean diameter were generated by time-dependent large-area electron beam exposure during an in situ heating process, ready for subsequent molecular attachment. An organic molecule was designed to have a dithiolane end group that binds to Mo-terminated sites and a ligand structure that incorporates a single transition metal atom (Pt) marker for ADF-STEM detection. Pt atoms were used to track molecular binding around zigzag edges of MoS₂ and to predict the orientations and conformations of molecules upon binding. We found that the molecules preferred to reside on the surface of the MoS₂, pointing inward when attaching to the edge, rather than dangling out from the edge into free space, which is attributed to van der Waals interactions between the aromatic core of the molecule and the MoS₂ basal planes. These results help us understand the way solution-deposited single molecules attach to free-standing edges of 2D crystals and the influence of van der Waals forces in guiding molecular binding.

A Microwave Polarimeter Demonstrator for Astronomy with Near-Infra-Red Up-Conversion for Optical Correlation and Detection

This paper presents a 10 to 20 GHz bandwidth microwave polarimeter demonstrator, based on the implementation of a near-infra-red frequency up-conversion stage that allows both the optical correlation, when operating as a synthesized-image interferometer, and signal detection, when operating as a direct-image instrument. The proposed idea is oriented towards the implementation of ultra-sensitive instruments presenting several dozens or even thousands of microwave receivers operating in the lowest bands of the cosmic microwave background. In this work, an electro-optical back-end module replaces the usual microwave detection stage with Mach–Zehnder modulators for the frequency up-conversion, and an optical stage for the signals correlation and detection at near-infra-red wavelengths (1550 nm). As interferometer, the instrument is able to correlate the signals of large-format instruments, while operating as a direct imaging instrument also presents advantages in terms of the possibility of implementing the optical back end by means of photonic integrated circuits to achieve reductions in cost, weight, size, and power consumption. A linearly polarized input wave, with a variable polar angle, is used as a signal source for laboratory tests. The receiver demonstrator has proved its capabilities of being used as a new microwave-photonic polarimeter for the study of the lowest bands of cosmic microwave background.

Direct Imaging of Photoswitching Molecular Conformations Using Individual Metal Atom Markers

Photoswitching behavior of individual organic molecules was imaged by annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (ADF-STEM) using a highly electron beam transparent graphene support. Photoswitching azobenzene derivatives with ligands at each end containing single transition-metal atoms (Pt) were designed (Pt-complex), and the distance between the strong ADF-STEM contrast from the two Pt atoms in each Pt-complex is used to track molecular length changes. UV irradiation was used to induce photoswitching of the Pt complex on graphene, and we show that the measured Pt-Pt distances within isolated molecules decrease from ∼2.1 nm to ∼1.4 nm, indicative of a trans-to- cis isomerization. Light illumination of the Pt-complex on the graphene support also caused their diffusion out from initial clusters to the surrounding area of graphene, indicating that the light-activated mobilization overcomes the intermolecular van der Waals interactions. This approach shows how individual isolated heavy metal atoms can be included as markers into complex molecules to track their structural changes using ADF-STEM on graphene supports, providing an effective method to study a diverse range of complex organic materials at the single molecule level.

SEEDS - Strategic explorations of exoplanets and disks with the Subaru Telescope

The first convincing detection of planets orbiting stars other than the Sun, or exoplanets, was made in 1995. In only 20 years, the number of the exoplanets including promising candidates has already accumulated to more than 5000. Most of the exoplanets discovered so far are detected by indirect methods because the direct imaging of exoplanets needs to overcome the extreme contrast between the bright central star and the faint planets. Using the large Subaru 8.2-m Telescope, a new high-contrast imager, HiCIAO, and second-generation adaptive optics (AO188), the most ambitious high-contrast direct imaging survey to date for giant planets and planet-forming disks has been conducted, the SEEDS project. In this review, we describe the aims and results of the SEEDS project for exoplanet/disk science. The completeness and uniformity of this systematic survey mean that the resulting data set will dominate this field of research for many years.

The structure of DNA by direct imaging

The structure of DNA was determined in 1953 by x-ray fiber diffraction. Several attempts have been made to obtain a direct image of DNA with alternative techniques. The direct image is intended to allow a quantitative evaluation of all relevant characteristic lengths present in a molecule. A direct image of DNA, which is different from diffraction in the reciprocal space, is difficult to obtain for two main reasons: the intrinsic very low contrast of the elements that form the molecule and the difficulty of preparing the sample while preserving its pristine shape and size. We show that through a preparation procedure compatible with the DNA physiological conditions, a direct image of a single suspended DNA molecule can be obtained. In the image, all relevant lengths of A-form DNA are measurable. A high-resolution transmission electron microscope that operates at 80 keV with an ultimate resolution of 1.5 Å was used for this experiment. Direct imaging of a single molecule can be used as a method to address biological problems that require knowledge at the single-molecule level, given that the average information obtained by x-ray diffraction of crystals or fibers is not sufficient for detailed structure determination, or when crystals cannot be obtained from biological molecules or are not sufficient in understanding multiple protein configurations.