Ultrafast photoemission electron microscopy:A multidimensional probe of nonequilibrium physics

Exploring the realms of physics that extend beyond thermal equilibrium has emerged as a crucial branch of condensed matter physics research.It aims to unravel the intricate processes involving the excitations,interactions,and annihilations of quasi-and many-body particles,and ultimately to achieve the manipulation and engineering of exotic non-equilibrium quantum phases on the ultrasmall and ultrafast spatiotemporal scales.Given the inherent complexities arising from many-body dynamics,it therefore seeks a technique that has efficient and diverse detection degrees of freedom to study the underlying physics.By combining high-power femtosecond lasers with real-or momentum-space photoemission electron microscopy(PEEM),imaging excited state phenomena from multiple perspectives,including time,real space,energy,momentum,and spin,can be conveniently achieved,making it a unique technique in studying physics out of equilibrium.In this context,we overview the working principle and technical advances of the PEEM apparatus and the related laser systems,and survey key excited-state phenomena probed through this surface-sensitive methodology,including the ultrafast dynamics of electrons,excitons,plasmons,spins,etc.,in materials ranging from bulk and nano-structured metals and semiconductors to low-dimensional quantum materials.Through this review,one can further envision that time-resolved PEEM will open new avenues for investigating a variety of classical and quantum phenomena in a multidimensional parameter space,offering unprecedented and comprehensive insights into important questions in the field of condensed matter physics.

Investigation of reflection anisotropy induced by micropipe defects on the surface of a 4H-SiC single crystal using scanning anisotropy microscopy

Optical reflection anisotropy microscopy mappings of micropipe defects on the surface of a 4H-SiC single crystal are studied by the scanning anisotropy microscopy(SAM)system.The reflection anisotropy(RA)image with a'butterfly pattern'is obtained around the micropipes by SAM.The RA image of the edge dislocations is theoretically simulated based on dislocation theory and the photoelastic principle.By comparing with the Raman spectrum,it is verified that the micropipes consist of edge dislocations.The different patterns of the RA images are due to the different orientations of the Burgers vectors.Besides,the strain distribution of the micropipes is also deduced.One can identify the dislocation type,the direction of the Burgers vector and the optical anisotropy from the RA image by using SAM.Therefore,SAM is an ideal tool to measure the optical anisotropy induced by the strain field around a defect.

A review of understanding electrocatalytic reactions in energy conversion and energy storage systems via scanning electrochemical microscopy

To address climate change and promote environmental sustainability,electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems emerge as promising alternative to fossil fuels,catering to the escalating demand for energy.Achieving optimal energy efficiency and cost competitiveness in these systems requires the strategic design of electrocatalysts,coupled with a thorough comprehension of the underlying mechanisms and degradation behavior occurring during the electrocatalysis processes.Scanning electrochemical microscopy(SECM),an analytical technique for studying surface electrochemically,stands out as a powerful tool offering electrochemical insights.It possesses remarkable spatiotemporal resolution,enabling the visualization of the localized electrochemical activity and surface topography.This review compiles crucial research findings and recent breakthroughs in electrocatalytic processes utilizing the SECM methodology,specifically focusing on applications in electrolysis,fuel cells,and metal–oxygen batteries within the realm of energy conversion and storage systems.Commencing with an overview of each energy system,the review introduces the fundamental principles of SECM,and aiming to provide new perspectives and broadening the scope of applied research by describing the major research categories within SECM.

Characterization of local chemical ordering and deformation behavior in high entropy alloys by transmission electron microscopy

Short-range ordering(SRO)is one of the most important structural features of high entropy alloys(HEAs).However,the chemical and structural analyses of SROs are very difficult due to their small size,complexed compositions,and varied locations.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)as well as its aberration correction techniques are powerful for characterizing SROs in these compositionally complex alloys.In this short communication,we summarized recent progresses regarding characterization of SROs using TEM in the field of HEAs.By using advanced TEM techniques,not only the existence of SROs was confirmed,but also the effect of SROs on the deformation mechanism was clarified.Moreover,the perspective related to application of TEM techniques in HEAs are also discussed.

Estimation-free spatial-domain image reconstruction of structured illumination microscopy

Structured illumination microscopy(SIM)achieves super-resolution(SR)by modulating the high-frequency information of the sample into the passband of the optical system and subsequent image reconstruction.The traditional Wiener-filtering-based reconstruction algorithm operates in the Fourier domain,it requires prior knowledge of the sinusoidal illumination patterns which makes the time-consuming procedure of parameter estimation to raw datasets necessary,besides,the parameter estimation is sensitive to noise or aberration-induced pattern distortion which leads to reconstruction artifacts.Here,we propose a spatial-domain image reconstruction method that does not require parameter estimation but calculates patterns from raw datasets,and a reconstructed image can be obtained just by calculating the spatial covariance of differential calculated patterns and differential filtered datasets(the notch filtering operation is performed to the raw datasets for attenuating and compensating the optical transfer function(OTF)).Experiments on reconstructing raw datasets including nonbiological,biological,and simulated samples demonstrate that our method has SR capability,high reconstruction speed,and high robustness to aberration and noise.

Capturing the non-equilibrium state in light–matter–free-electron interactions through ultrafast transmission electron microscopy

Ultrafast transmission electron microscope(UTEM) with the multimodality of time-resolved diffraction, imaging,and spectroscopy provides a unique platform to reveal the fundamental features associated with the interaction between free electrons and matter. In this review, we summarize the principles, instrumentation, and recent developments of the UTEM and its applications in capturing dynamic processes and non-equilibrium transient states. The combination of the transmission electron microscope with a femtosecond laser via the pump–probe method guarantees the high spatiotemporal resolution, allowing the investigation of the transient process in real, reciprocal and energy spaces. Ultrafast structural dynamics can be studied by diffraction and imaging methods, revealing the coherent acoustic phonon generation and photoinduced phase transition process. In the energy dimension, time-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy enables the examination of the intrinsic electronic dynamics of materials, while the photon-induced near-field electron microscopy extends the application of the UTEM to the imaging of optical near fields with high real-space resolution. It is noted that light–free-electron interactions have the ability to shape electron wave packets in both longitudinal and transverse directions, showing the potential application in the generation of attosecond electron pulses and vortex electron beams.

Towards high-performance and robust anion exchange membranes(AEMs)for water electrolysis:Super-acid-catalyzed synthesis of AEMs

The increasing demand for hydrogen energy to address environmental issues and achieve carbon neutrality has elevated interest in green hydrogen production,which does not rely on fossil fuels.Among various hydrogen production technologies,anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer(AEMWE)has emerged as a next-generation technology known for its high hydrogen production efficiency and its ability to use non-metal catalysts.However,this technology faces significant challenges,particularly in terms of the membrane durability and low ionic conductivity.To address these challenges,research efforts have focused on developing membranes with a new backbone structure and anion exchange groups to enhance durability and ionic conductivity.Notably,the super-acid-catalyzed condensation(SACC)synthesis method stands out due to its user convenience,the ability to create high molecular weight(MW)polymers,and the use of oxygen-tolerant organic catalysts.Although the synthesis of anion exchange membranes(AEMs)using the SACC method began in 2015,and despite growing interest in this synthesis approach,there remains a scarcity of review papers focusing on AEMs synthesized using the SACC method.The review covers the basics of SACC synthesis,presents various polymers synthesized using this method,and summarizes the development of these polymers,particularly their building blocks including aryl,ketone,and anion exchange groups.We systematically describe the effects of changes in the molecular structure of each polymer component,conducted by various research groups,on the mechanical properties,conductivity,and operational stability of the membrane.This review will provide insights into the development of AEMs with superior performance and operational stability suitable for water electrolysis applications.

Correlation of work function and stacking fault energy through Kelvin probe force microscopy and nanohardness in diluteα-magnesium

Electronic interactions of the Group 2A elements with magnesium have been studied through the dilute solid solutions in binary Mg-Ca,Mg-Sr and Mg-Ba systems.This investigation incorporated the difference in the‘Work Function'(ΔWF)measured via Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy(KPFM),as a property directly affected by interatomic bond types,i.e.the electronic structure,nanoindentation measurements,and Stacking Fault Energy values reported in the literature.It was shown that the nano-hardness of the solid-solutionα-Mg phase changed in the order of Mg-Ca>Mg-Sr>Mg-Ba.Thus,it was shown,by also considering the nano-hardness levels,that SFE of a solid-solution is closely correlated with its‘Work Function'level.Nano-hardness measurements on the eutectics andΔWF difference between eutectic phases enabled an assessment of the relative bond strength and the pertinent electronic structures of the eutectics in the three alloys.Correlation withΔWF and at least qualitative verification of those computed SFE values with some experimental measurement techniques were considered important as those computational methods are based on zero Kelvin degree,relatively simple atomic models and a number of assumptions.As asserted by this investigation,if the results of measurement techniques can be qualitatively correlated with those of the computational methods,it can be possible to evaluate the electronic structures in alloys,starting from binary systems,going to ternary and then multi-elemental systems.Our investigation has shown that such a qualitative correlation is possible.After all,the SFE values are not treated as absolute values but rather become essential in comparative investigations when assessing the influences of alloying elements at a fundamental level,that is,free electron density distributions.Our study indicated that the principles of‘electronic metallurgy'in developing multi-elemental alloy systems can be followed via practical experimental methods,i.e.ΔWF measurements using KPFM and nanoindentation.

HTGACM弹性体:乙烯丙烯酸弹性体(AEM)的高性能替代品

已有研究将HyTempACM(聚丙烯酸酯橡胶)作为AEM(乙烯G丙烯酸酯弹性体)的替代品.AEM由杜邦公司以Vamac商品名推出,是一种出色的弹性体材料,与ACM一样,它在要求苛刻的汽车动力系统和传动系统中得到了广泛应用.

运用AEM3D模型分析滇池蓝藻对营养盐变化的响应

为了解滇池蓝藻暴发的时空分布规律以及外源营养盐调控对蓝藻暴发的影响,采用澳大利亚HydroNumerics公司的三维水动力水质模型AEM3D(3-Dimensional Coupled Hydrodynamic-Aquatic Ecosystem Model)对总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和蓝藻时空分布特征进行模拟研究,并通过调控外源营养盐的数值,探究蓝藻在不同外源营养盐浓度下的响应关系。结果表明,春季总磷浓度较高,在藻类生长中充当重要的营养盐因子;秋季总氮浓度较高,对藻类生长起到了关键作用;在模拟单因子外源营养盐不同削减比例时发现,外源总磷对蓝藻的响应大于外源总氮,其中春季外源氮的变化对蓝藻的影响较大;在仅控制总磷时,削减25%能有效减少湖内叶绿素a(Chl-a)浓度,在仅控制总氮时,50%的氮削减较为合理;氮磷营养盐同时削减10%或50%以上时对Chl-a浓度的影响效果显著优于单一营养盐的削减。

From static to dynamic:live observation of the support system after ischemic stroke by two photon-excited fluorescence laser-scanning microscopy

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common causes of mortality and disability worldwide.However,treatment efficacy and the progress of research remain unsatisfactory.As the critical support system and essential components in neurovascular units,glial cells and blood vessels(including the bloodbrain barrier)together maintain an optimal microenvironment for neuronal function.They provide nutrients,regulate neuronal excitability,and prevent harmful substances from entering brain tissue.The highly dynamic networks of this support system play an essential role in ischemic stroke through processes including brain homeostasis,supporting neuronal function,and reacting to injuries.However,most studies have focused on postmortem animals,which inevitably lack critical information about the dynamic changes that occur after ischemic stroke.Therefore,a high-precision technique for research in living animals is urgently needed.Two-photon fluorescence laser-scanning microscopy is a powerful imaging technique that can facilitate live imaging at high spatiotemporal resolutions.Twophoton fluorescence laser-scanning microscopy can provide images of the whole-cortex vascular 3D structure,information on multicellular component interactions,and provide images of structure and function in the cranial window.This technique shifts the existing research paradigm from static to dynamic,from flat to stereoscopic,and from single-cell function to multicellular intercommunication,thus providing direct and reliable evidence to identify the pathophysiological mechanisms following ischemic stroke in an intact brain.In this review,we discuss exciting findings from research on the support system after ischemic stroke using two-photon fluorescence laser-scanning microscopy,highlighting the importance of dynamic observations of cellular behavior and interactions in the networks of the brain’s support systems.We show the excellent application prospects and advantages of two-photon fluorescence laser-scanning microscopy and predict future research developments and directions in the study of ischemic stroke.

胶黏剂对AEM胶与金属粘接性能影响

为了提升AEM与金属的粘接性能,研究了不同工艺条件下,双组分热硫化胶黏剂Chemlok 202A/202B和Cilbond 33A/33B对AEM和金属之间的粘接强度及附胶率的影响,旨在摸索出适用于粘接性能提升的最优胶黏剂品种和最佳工艺条件。采用型式试验对比法,分别探讨了胶黏剂与丁酮的配比、胶黏剂预固化条件以及硫化工艺等条件对AEM和金属粘接强度及附胶率的影响。研究结果表明,当202A、202B与丁酮体积配比为1∶1∶4,33A、33B与丁酮体积配比为1∶1∶3,140℃40 min预固化,150℃20 min一段硫化时,采用202A/202B的AEM胶与金属粘接强度为6 MPa,附胶率为85%。同等工艺条件下,采用33A/33B时,AEM胶与金属粘接强度为7.5 MPa,附胶率为100%。此外,采用这两种胶黏剂对机车柴油机联轴节产品进行试制,产品试验数据表明,采用33A/33B的试制产品拉伸破坏力更大,附胶率更高。以上结果表明,相同工艺条件下,Cilbond 33A/33B胶黏剂更适用于AEM橡胶和金属粘接。

Nonlinear optical microscopy for skin in vivo:Basics,development and applications

Multi-photon microscopy(MPM)and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering(CARS)are two advanced nonlinear optical imaging techniques,which provide complementary information and have great potential in combination for noninvasive in vrito biomedical applications.This paper provides a detailed discussion of the basics,development and applications of these technologies for in vrivo skin research,covering the following topics:The principle and advantage of MPM and CARS,instrumentation development for in vino applications,MPM and CARS of normal skin,application of MPM and CARS in skin cancer and disease diagnosis;application of MPM in skin disease intervention,ie.,imaging guided two-photon photothermolysis.

Comparative Performance of Microscopy and Nested PCR for the Detection of Cryptosporidium Species in Patients Living with HIV/AIDS in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Cryptosporidium spp. infection is one of the causes of diarrhea in people living with HIV/AIDS. The objective of this study is to compare the sensitivity of microscopy and molecular biology to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Patients Living With HIV (PLWH). This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in three care centers for people living with HIV/AIDS in Abidjan. It took place from November 2018 to March 2020. Sociodemographic data were obtained via a questionnaire. Stool and blood samples were collected and analyzed for microscopy and Nested PCR detection of Cryptosporidium spp. Blood samples were analyzed for CD4+ count. A total of 363 stool samples were collected from the three sites. Individuals aged 40 - 50 years (36.52%) were most likely to participate in the study. HIV Type 1 accounted for 86.22% of the study population. The samples collected consisted of 47.65% diarrheal stool. Microscopic examination of the stool yielded a prevalence of 3.86% for Cryptosporidium spp. while the prevalence was 3.96% with molecular identification. No statistically significant difference was observed between these two prevalences (χ2 = 0.26;p = 0.609). CD4+ count was the factor associated with Cryptosporidium spp. infection for both microscopy (OR = 0.887, p = 0.001) and PCR (OR = 0.896, p = 0.001). This study demonstrated that Nested PCR improves the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. in patient diagnosis.

Light field microscopy in biological imaging

Light field microscopy(LFM),featured for high threedimensional imaging speed and low pho-totoxicity,has emeged as a technique of choice for instantaneous volumetric inaging.In contrast with other scanning-based three dimensional(3D)imaging approaches,LFM enables to encode 3D spatial information in a snapshot manner,permitting high-speed 3D imaging that is only limited by the frame rate of the camera.In this review,we first introduce the fundamental theory of LFM and current corresponding advanced approaches.Then,we summarize various applica-tions of LFM in biological imaging.

Correlating the Interfacial Polar-Phase Structure to the Local Chemistry in Ferroelectric Polymer Nanocomposites by Combined Scanning Probe Microscopy

Ferroelectric polymer nanocomposites possess exceptional electric properties with respect to the two otherwise uniform phases,which is commonly attributed to the critical role of the matrix-particle interfacial region.However,the structure-property correlation of the interface remains unestablished,and thus,the design of ferroelectric polymer nanocompos-ite has largely relied on the trial-and-error method.Here,a strategy that combines multi-mode scanning probe microscopy-based electrical charac-terization and nano-infrared spectroscopy is developed to unveil the local structure-property correlation of the interface in ferroelectric polymer nano-composites.The results show that the type of surface modifiers decorated on the nanoparticles can significantly influence the local polar-phase content and the piezoelectric effect of the polymer matrix surrounding the nano-particles.The strongly coupled polar-phase content and piezoelectric effect measured directly in the interfacial region as well as the computed bonding energy suggest that the property enhancement originates from the formation of hydrogen bond between the surface modifiers and the ferroelectric polymer.It is also directly detected that the local domain size of the ferroelectric polymer can impact the energy level and distribution of charge traps in the interfacial region and eventually influence the local dielectric strength.

Comparison of point detection and area detection for point-scanning structured illumination microscopy

Structured illumination microscopy(SIM)is suitable for biological samples because of its relatively low-peak illumination intensity requirement and high imaging speed.The system resolution is affected by two typical detection modes:Point detection and area detection.However,a systematic analysis of the imaging performance of the different detection modes of the system has rarely been conducted.In this study,we compared laser point scanning point detection(PS-PD)and point scanning area detection(PS-AD)imaging in nonconfocal microscopy through theoretical analysis and simulated imaging.The results revealed that the imaging resolutions of PSPD and PS-AD depend on excitation and emission point spread functions(PSFs),respectively.Especially,we combined the second harmonic generation(SHG)of point detection(P-SHG)and area detection(A-SHG)with SIM to realize a nonlinear SIM-imaging technique that improves the imaging resolution.Moreover,we analytically and experimentally compared the nonlinear SIM performance of P-SHG with that of A-SHG.

Classification of Human Protein in Multiple Cells Microscopy Images Using CNN

The subcellular localization of human proteins is vital for understanding the structure of human cells.Proteins play a significant role within human cells,as many different groups of proteins are located in a specific location to perform a particular function.Understanding these functions will help in discoveringmany diseases and developing their treatments.The importance of imaging analysis techniques,specifically in proteomics research,is becoming more prevalent.Despite recent advances in deep learning techniques for analyzing microscopy images,classification models have faced critical challenges in achieving high performance.Most protein subcellular images have a significant class imbalance.We use oversampling and under sampling techniques in this research to overcome this issue.We have used a Convolutional Neural Network(CNN)model called GapNet-PL for the multi-label classification task on the Human Protein Atlas Classification(HPA)Dataset.Authors have found that the ParametricRectified LinearUnit(PreLU)activation function is better than the Scaled Exponential LinearUnit(SeLU)activation function in the GapNet-PL model in most classification metrics.The results showed that the GapNet-PL model with the PReLU activation function achieved an area under the ROC curve(AUC)equal to 0.896,an F1 score of 0.541,and a recall of 0.473.

SOFFLFM:Super-resolution optical fluctuation Fourierlight-field microscopy

Fourier light-field microscopy(FLFM)uses a microlens aray(MLA)to segment the Fourierplane of the microscopic objective lens to generate multiple two-dimensional perspective views,thereby reconstructing the threedimensional(3D)structure of the sample using 3D deconvo-lution calculation without scanning.However,the resolution of FLFM is stil limited by dif-fraction,and furthermore,it is dependent on the aperture division.In order to improve itsresolution,a super-resolution opticai fuctuation Fourier light-field microscopy(SOFFLFM)wasproposed here,in which the super-resolution optical fluctuation imaging(SOFI)with the abilityof super-resolution was introduced into FLFM.SOFFLFM uses higher-order cumulants statis-tical analysis on an image sequence collected by FLFM,and then carries out 3D deconvolutioncalculation to reconstruct the 3D structure of the sample.The theoretical basis of SOFFLFM onimproving resolution was explained and then verified with the simulations.Simulation resultsdemonstrated that SOFFLFM improved the lateral and axial resolution by more than V2 and 2times in the second-and fourth-order accumulations,compared with that of FLFM.

DecodeSTORM:A user-friendly ImageJ plug-in for quantitative data analysis in single-molecule localization microscopy

Quantitative data analysis in single-molecule localization microscopy(SMLM)is crucial for studying cellular functions at the biomolecular level.In the past decade,several quantitative methods were developed for analyzing SMLM data;however,imaging artifacts in SMLM experiments reduce the accuracy of these methods,and these methods were seldom designed as user-friendly tools.Researchers are now trying to overcome these di±culties by developing easyto-use SMLM data analysis software for certain image analysis tasks.But,this kind of software did not pay su±cient attention to the impact of imaging artifacts on the analysis accuracy,and usually contained only one type of analysis task.Therefore,users are still facing di±culties when they want to have the combined use of different types of analysis methods according to the characteristics of their data and their own needs.In this paper,we report an ImageJ plug-in called DecodeSTORM,which not only has a simple GUI for human–computer interaction,but also combines artifact correction with several quantitative analysis methods.DecodeSTORM includes format conversion,channel registration,artifact correction(drift correction and localization¯ltering),quantitative analysis(segmentation and clustering,spatial distribution statistics and colocalization)and visualization.Importantly,these data analysis methods can be combined freely,thus improving the accuracy of quantitative analysis and allowing users to have an optimal combination of methods.We believe DecodeSTORM is a user-friendly and powerful ImageJ plug-in,which provides an easy and accurate data analysis tool for adventurous biologists who are looking for new imaging tools for studying important questions in cell biology.