Novel Electron Microscopy Offers Nanoscale, Damage-Free Isotope Tracking In Amino Acids (IMAGE)

DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Novel Electron Microscopy Offers Nanoscale, Damage-Free Isotope Tracking In Amino Acids

Caption

Electrifying Neutrons: Monochromated electron energy loss spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscope is used to distinguish between molecules that differ only by a single neutron on a single atom. The electron beam can capture changes to the minute molecular vibrations of an amino acid caused by the extra neutron without damaging the sample and with unprecedented spatial resolution.

Credit

Andy Sproles/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy

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