SEMINAR: In Situ and Operando Electrochemical Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanoparticle Growth and Dissolution
Guest: Saso Sturm, Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
Title: In Situ and Operando Electrochemical Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanoparticle Growth and Dissolution (MAT, BIO, CHEM, PHYS, ME)
Date/Time: April 8, 2026, 13:40
Location: FENS G032
Abstract: In situ and operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using liquid-cell platforms has emerged as a powerful technique for directly visualising electrochemical processes in realistic aqueous environments. Conventional electrochemical studies of nanoparticle (NP) nucleation, growth, and dissolution are typically conducted over macroscopic electrode areas, which can obscure the link between measured electrochemical signals and the underlying nanoscale structural dynamics. Liquid-cell TEM addresses this limitation by enabling real-time imaging and spectroscopy of materials in confined liquid environments, providing direct insight into the thermodynamics and kinetics of electrochemical reactions with high spatial and temporal resolution.
This presentation will highlight the early development of electrochemical liquid-cell TEM methodology in our laboratory, including key technical challenges such as beam-induced radiolysis and strategies to mitigate its effects. Several case studies will then be presented, focusing on the electrochemical deposition and dissolution of metal nanoparticles in confined liquid environments. These studies uncover highly dynamic, multiscale pathways of nucleation, growth, and degradation, enabling direct, particle-by-particle visualisation of structural evolution during electrochemical operation. By correlating precisely controlled electrochemical conditions with real-time nanoscale imaging, this methodology bridges the gap between macroscopic electrochemical responses and the underlying microscopic mechanisms, contributing to a deeper understanding of the stability and durability of electrodeposited nanomaterials under realistic working conditions.
Bio: Prof. Dr. Sašo Šturm is the head of Department for Nanostructured Materials at the Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia, where he leads an international team of more than 50 researchers working at the forefront of nanotechnology and advanced materials. He also directs a large Nanostructured materials research program funded by the Slovenian Research Agency. His research focuses on nanoscience, particularly on the advanced characterisation of nanomaterials. He is a full professor at the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School and an associate professor at the University of Ljubljana. Prof. Šturm completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute in Stuttgart and has held visiting scientist positions at the Graz Centre for Electron Microscopy, Toyama University, Tokyo University of Science, and Hokkaido University. He also served as a visiting professor at Sabanci University in Turkey. Prof. Šturm has held several leadership roles, including President of the Slovene Microscopy Society, and is currently a member of the Executive Board of the European Microscopy Society. He has participated in numerous national and European research projects, including Horizon Europe initiatives. Prof. Šturm holds two Slovenian patents, two European patents, and two European patent applications, further contributing to the translation of research into innovation. His scholarly record includes around 150 peer-reviewed publications, a book chapter, more than 3000 citations, and an h-index of 32.