Nanomaterials are the future of modern technology. From powering batteries to improving clean energy systems and efficient catalysts, nanomaterials are everywhere. Their unique properties, which make them stand out, often arise from the precise arrangements of their atoms. But despite their importance, the smallest building blocks of these materials have often remained hidden, which is a major limitation for analysis—especially when the materials are too sensitive to withstand the strong electron beams used in traditional imaging.
Overcoming this hurdle, a team of researchers at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) has now come up with a breakthrough method that promises detailed analysis without structural compromise. By combining high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with a data-driven lattice correlation analysis, the team successfully mapped the three-dimensional atomic structure of titanium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles, a class of materials prized for their applications in energy devices and advanced catalysts.
To read more, click here.