Chemical Imaging at the Nanometer Scale Delivering New Capabilities for in Situ, Nanometer-Scale Imaging

Chemical Imaging at the Nanometer Scale DELIVERING NEW CAPABILITIES FOR IN SITU, NANOMETER-ScALE IMAGING The majority of microbes in natural and engineered environments live within structured communities or biofilms (seen here using confocal laser scanning microscopy). Biofilms include a poorly characterized organic matrix, termed extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which facilitates certain biogeochemical reactions. We are enhancing visualization, compositional analysis, and functional characterization of EPS to better understand its influence on subsurface reactions vital to environmental and energy issues. Having a complete, precise, and realistic view of the molecular interactions that occur in chemical, materials, and biochemical processes is vital to exponential scientific progress and to solving the nation’s energy, environmental, and security issues. Numerous U.S. government-sponsored reports have identified imaging as critical for scientific advancement. However, current instrumentation cannot reach the needed level of clarity, leaving scientists to infer what is occurring from secondary sources and mathematical models. At Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the Chemical Imaging Initiative is developing a suite of unique tools with nanometer-scale resolution and element specificity that will allow scientists to go from model system observation to real-world manipulation on a molecular level. These real-time, in situ tools Through the Chemical Imaging Initiative at Pacific will be achieved through near-nanometer Northwest National Laboratory, scientists are designing and integrated sample preparation and in-house imaging, nanoscale molecular analysis platform so scientists can determine the imaging, and multimodal analysis and three-dimensional positions and chemical identity integration framework for chemical imaging. of individual atoms in any materials system. To obtain the instruments necessary Multimodal Analysis and Integration Nanoscale Molecular Imaging for a nanoscale view of molecules and Framework for Chemical Imaging: Correlative High-Resolution Imaging molecular interactions, the Chemical Integrate hardware and software for image and Spectroscopy to Characterize Imaging Initiative, which began in reconstruction and feature extraction. the Structure and Biogeochemical October 2010, consists of interdisciplinary We are developing a flexible framework to Function of Microbial Biofilms. teams of scientific and technological facilitate analysis and integrations across leaders. These leaders include experts in chemical imaging technologies. The Principal Investigator: atmospheric sciences, biology, chemical framework will enable scientists to contribute Dr. Matthew Marshall physics, chemistry, computational their own tools. Techniques and tools for frameworks, imaging and scientific feature detection and distributed analysis Integrated Nanoscale Imaging instrumentation, and materials sciences, and integration across different imaging for Investigating Applications and to name a few. These teams are working technologies are being created, which could Implications of Nanomaterials. on projects in three key thrust areas: harness the computational power to solve Principal Investigator: fundamental scientific questions. Dr. Galya Orr Near-Nanometer In-House Imaging: Combine microscopies to understand Chemical Imaging Analysis of chemical and biological mechanisms. CURRENTLY FUNDED Environmental Particles. We are coupling in situ electron Principal Investigator: microscopes, mass spectrometers, scanning PROJECTS IN THE Dr. Alexander Laskin probe microscopes, high-resolution CHEMICAL IMAGING vibrational spectrometers, and atom probe tomography together or with light- INITIATIVE Multimodal Analysis and Integration source capabilities to image materials of Framework for Chemical Imaging Near-Nanometer In-House Imaging importance to the nation’s energy and A Multimodal Integration Framework environmental issues. Site-Specific Atomic Resolution Probing for Chemical Imaging. of Structure-Property Relationship Nanoscale Molecular Imaging: Principal Investigator: under Dynamic and/or Operando Dr. Kerstin Kleese van Dam Develop probes for three-dimensional Conditions using In Situ and Ex Situ tomographic, structural, and element- Chemical Imaging Based on Multi- specific interrogation at the molecular Instrument Approach. level. We are coupling light-source-based Principal Investigator: x-ray and vacuum ultraviolet probes with ABOUT PNNL Dr. Chongmin Wang laboratory-based imaging capabilities. Use of these new techniques, for example, Development of New Soft Ionization Pacific Northwest National could provide an atomic-resolution, in situ Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Laboratory, a U.S. Department of “movie” of a functioning photocatalyst Spatial Imaging of Complex Chemical Energy Office of Science laboratory, or clear characterizations of nanoporous and Biological Systems. solves complex problems materials and their active sites for batteries in energy, the environment, and and biomolecules. Principal Investigator: Dr. Julia Laskin national security by advancing the understand ing of science. Facet-Specific Chemistry of Nanoscale PNNL employs more than Crystalline Alumina Using an Enhanced 4,900 staff, has a business volume Scattering Infrared Scanning Near-Field exceeding $1.1 billion, and has been Optical Microscopy Instrument. managed by Ohio-based Battelle Principal Investigator: since the Lab’s inception in 1965. Dr. Scott Lea For more information, please contact: Dr. Lou Terminello Pacific Northwest National Laboratory P.O. Box 999, MSIN K9-80 Scientists are probing the electronic structure of Richland, WA 99352 catalyst and energy materials. For example, one (509) 371-6790 project is exploring, in part, the microstructural [email protected] evolution of SnO2 anode upon initial charging. www.pnl.gov www.pnl.gov December 2010 PNNL-SA-76340.

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