Direct Observation Of Chemical Reactions

Mouth of Sauron writes "I saw on C|net that researchers with IBM have devised a way to directly observe chemical reactions as they occur in a liquid with an electron microscope. Frances Ross of IBM was awarded the Burton Medal by the Microscopy Society of America. Researchers say this could lead to a better understanding of chemical reactions and could have impact far beyond the computer industry."

Comments

They could already do this in dry environs

[Elwood P Dowd]

The new advantage is that they can make 30 fps observation of chemical reactions in a liquid. Previously, they could get 30 fps in gas or solids, and they could get 3 fps in liquid, but now they can get both at high speed.

Really interesting. I want to hear what they're learning.

Priorities

[SandSpider]

Researchers say this could lead to a better understanding of chemical reactions and could have impact far beyond the computer industry.

I mean, I know we're computer geeks and all, but did researchers really first think, "Wow, this is going to impact the computer industry for sure!"? Or perhaps did they think of, for example, medicine, where chemical reactions are common during the practice, rather than during manufacturing stage, which is the only time chemical reactions in a liquid are really going to matter.

Brian

Re:silicon nitride?

[tsa]

The use of SixNy (almost never really Si3N4 because of its huge internal stress) for membranes for transmission electron spectroscopy is quite common. You can make very thin membranes (in the order of 50-100 nm). They are very strong and thin enough for the electrons to tunnel through. With two of these layers placed very near each other you can keep the liquid in between them and still use them for TEM. And because they are non-crystalline they don't show up in the pictures that much.