University of Manchester scientists have created a "nano-petri dish," a novel method of observing atom behavior in liquid using two-dimensional materials.
Scientists have long speculated that liquid allows atoms to vibrate and slide past each other. But, until now, there has been no method of quantifying the theory. Until graphene, scientists revolutionized how we view atoms suspended in a liquid.
Atomic behavior in Liquid Nano-Petri Dish
Led by National Graphene Institute-based scientists, a paper published in the journal Nature, titled "Tracking single adatoms in liquid in a Transmission Electron Microscope," the team stacked 2D materials, like graphene, to trap liquid and understand how the presence of liquid changes the behavior of solids.
For the first time, the team captured images of single atoms "swimming" in liquid. The findings could significantly impact the development of future green technologies like hydrogen production.
When solid surfaces are in contact with liquids, both change their atomic configuration in response to their proximity. Such atomic-scale interactions govern the behavior of fuel cells and batteries for clean electricity generation, as well as determine the efficiency of the generation of clean water and underpinning many biological processes.
Professor Sarah Haigh, one of the study's leading researchers, commented that given the widespread industrial and scientific significance of the behavior, it is truly surprising how little we have learned about the fundamentals of atoms' behavior on surfaces in contact with liquids. One of the reasons behind the missing information is the absence of techniques that would be able to yield experimental data for interfaces of solid and liquid, reports PhysOrg.
Novel Technology for Observing Atomic Behavior
One method that allows individual atoms to be observed is Transmission electron microscopy. On the other hand, the TEM instrument needs a high-vacuum environment, and the structure of materials differs in vacuums.
Dr. Nick Clark, the first author, explains that in the team's work, they demonstrated that misleading information was provided when atomic behavior was observed in vacuums instead of using liquid cells.
Professor Roman Gorbachev, a pioneer of 2D material stacking for electronics, and his group used those same techniques in developing a "double graphene liquid cell."
With this, a 2D layer of molybdenum disulfide was suspended in liquid and encapsulated with graphene windows. The novel design allows researchers to provide precisely controlled liquid layers, enabling videos to be captured showing single atoms "swimming" around while surrounded by liquid.
By observing the movement of atoms in the videos and comparing theoretical insights from Cambridge University colleagues, researchers could better understand the effects of liquid on atomic behavior. The liquid was observed to speed up the atoms' motion and change their preferred resting sites concerning the underlying solid.
The team analyzed a promising material for green hydrogen production, but experimental technology developed in the process shows promise in different industries and applications.
Dr. Nick Clark, a co-author from the Department of Materials at the University of Manchester, says that the study is a milestone achievement and is the beginning of the further investigation. Stating that the team is already looking into the use of the technique to support the development of materials for sustaining chemical processing.
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