Plasma/Gas
In Situ TEM of Plasma–Material Interactions
Hummingbird Scientific’s Operando Plasma TEM Sample Holder enables direct, nanoscale observation of plasma–material interactions in real time within the transmission electron microscope. Designed for in situ and operando studies, it supports a wide range of applications including plasma-assisted catalysis, nanoparticle synthesis, thin film growth, surface functionalization, and semiconductor processing. The platform delivers stable, controlled plasma environments while maintaining high-resolution imaging, providing a unique window into dynamic processes that are otherwise inaccessible.
By revealing plasma-enhanced reaction pathways at catalyst surfaces, the system offers critical insight for improving catalytic performance and efficiency. It also enables new diagnostic capabilities for sustainable materials technologies, such as hydrogen plasma reduction of metal oxides for green steel production. More broadly, this platform empowers researchers to study interactions between plasmas and nanomaterials, catalysts, and biological systems, guiding the development of next-generation plasma technologies across energy, materials science, and advanced manufacturing.
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How it Works
The plasma holder and holder tip assembly, consist of a cathode chip, an anode chip, and spacers. The electrode configurations of both the cathode and the anode are presented in the right upper corner of the figure on the left, which also shows a schematic side cross section view of the plasma cell. The electrodes are uses to strike a plasma inside the cell, as can be seen in the optical image of a He plasma operation inside the plasma holder.
Image Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Nature Communications published by Springer Nature.
Reference: Jae Hyun Nam, K. Andre Mkhoyan, Daan Hein Alsem, Peter J. Bruggeman. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 7537. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62639-4
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TEM Safety
Careful preparation of your samples and system are essential for effective use of environmental holders. A critical component of any holder system is a high-vacuum leak check station.
Our high-vacuum pumping station is a compact, all-in-one vacuum storage and seal-checking mechanism for TEM specimen holders. The station features short pumping and venting times, a low base pressure (<1e-6 mbar), and a glass viewing port to allow optical microscopy imaging for the holder tip. The integrated stereo-microscope allows researchers to inspect and test the seal of a liquid or gas cell assembly before loading it into the TEM, crucial for protecting vacuum quality.
A convenient, easy-to-use control-panel and a compact design make the check station a worthwhile addition to your electron microscopy laboratory.
Read More about the Seal Checking Station
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Hummingbird Scientific, with over 20 years of leadership in gas and liquid cell microscopy, collaborated with researchers at the University of Minnesota on a recent Nature Communications study demonstrating operando plasma TEM. By integrating an atmospheric-pressure plasma cell into a TEM holder, the team enabled direct, real-time visualization of the reduction of magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles by non-thermal hydrogen plasma, achieving ~1 nm spatial resolution and capturing rapid particle shrinkage and crack formation within seconds of exposure.
Mechanistic analysis revealed that hydrogen radicals (H•), generated through plasma dissociation of H₂, drive reduction at temperatures below 700 K—well below thermal thresholds. The process follows a shrinking-core model with rate constants up to two orders of magnitude higher than thermal reduction. These results provide direct insight into plasma-driven reaction pathways at the nanoscale, with implications for low-carbon steelmaking and broader applications in catalysis, nanomaterial synthesis, and plasma processing.
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Nature Communications published by Springer Nature.
Reference: Jae Hyun Nam, K. Andre Mkhoyan, Daan Hein Alsem, Peter J. Bruggeman. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 7537. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62639-4
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