This article addresses recent advances in liquid phase transmission electron microscopy (LPTEM) for studying nanoscale synthetic processes of carbon-based materials that are independent of the electron beam—those driven by nonradiolytic chemical or thermal reactions. In particular, we focus on chemical/physical formations and the assembly of nanostructures composed of organic monomers/polymers, peptides/DNA, and biominerals. The synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials generally only occurs at specific conditions, which cannot be mimicked by aqueous solution radiolysis. Carbon-based structures themselves are also acutely sensitive to the damaging effects of the irradiating beam, which make studying their synthesis using LPTEM a unique challenge that is possible when beam effects can be quantified and mitigated. With new direct sensing, high frame-rate cameras, and advances in liquid cell holder designs, combined with a growing understanding of irradiation effects and proper experimental controls, microscopists have been able to make strides in observing traditionally problematic carbon-based materials under conditions where synthesis can be controlled, and imaged free from beam effects, or with beam effects quantified and accounted for. These materials systems and LPTEM experimental techniques are discussed, focusing on nonradiolytic chemical and physical transformations relevant to materials synthesis.

本文介绍了液相透射电子显微镜（LPTEM）的最新进展，该研究用于研究碳基材料的纳米级合成工艺，该工艺与电子束无关，后者是由非辐射化学或热反应驱动的。特别是，我们专注于化学/物理形成以及由有机单体/聚合物，肽/ DNA和生物矿物组成的纳米结构的组装。碳基纳米材料的合成通常仅在特定条件下发生，而水溶液辐射分解无法模仿。碳基结构本身也对辐照束的破坏效应极为敏感，这使得使用LPTEM研究其合成成为一个独特的挑战，当可以量化和减轻束效应时，这是可能的。有了新的直接感应，高帧率相机以及液池固定器设计的进步，加上对辐射效果和适当的实验控制方法的日益了解，显微镜技术人员能够在可以控制合成的条件下观察传统上有问题的碳基材料取得长足的进步，并在没有光束影响的情况下成像，或者对光束影响进行量化和说明。讨论了这些材料系统和LPTEM实验技术，重点是与材料合成有关的非辐射化学和物理转化。显微学家已经能够在可以控制合成的条件下观察到传统上有问题的碳基材料，并在不受束效应影响的情况下成像，或者对束效应进行了量化和说明，从而取得了长足的进步。讨论了这些材料系统和LPTEM实验技术，重点是与材料合成有关的非辐射化学和物理转化。显微学家已经能够在可以控制合成的条件下观察到传统上有问题的碳基材料，并在不受束效应影响的情况下成像，或者对束效应进行了量化和说明，从而取得了长足的进步。讨论了这些材料系统和LPTEM实验技术，重点是与材料合成有关的非辐射化学和物理转化。