New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis
in STEM/ TEM

J 2025

New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis in STEM/ TEM

PALKOVA, Lenka; Vilem NEDELA; Jaroslava BEZDEKOVA; Eva TIHLARIKOVA; Frantisek MARTINEK et al.

Základní údaje

Originální název

New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis in STEM/ TEM

Autoři

PALKOVA, Lenka; Vilem NEDELA; Jaroslava BEZDEKOVA; Eva TIHLARIKOVA; Frantisek MARTINEK; Lucie KRACIKOVA; Ladislav ANDROVIC a Richard LAGA

Vydání

Applied Surface Science Advances, AMSTERDAM, ELSEVIER, 2025, 2666-5239

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Článek v odborném periodiku

Obor

10611 Plant sciences, botany

Stát vydavatele

Spojené státy

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Odkazy

URL

Impakt faktor

Impact factor: 8.700 v roce 2024

Označené pro přenos do RIV

Ano

Kód RIV

RIV/00216224:90127/25:00143924

Organizační jednotka

CIISB II

Klíčová slova anglicky

Nanoparticle; STEM; TEM; Polymer; Grid; Film; Layer

Štítky

CF CRYO, CF NANO, ne MU, rivok

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 10. 3. 2026 11:12, Mgr. Eva Dubská

Anotace

V originále

The demand for high-resolution imaging of nanomaterials continues to grow across disciplines. However, conventional support films for transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy (TEM/STEM) are often limited by low beam resistance, suboptimal resolution, toxicity concerns, and high production costs. This study introduces a new application of a self-supporting, biocompatible thin film composed of hydrophilic, crosslinked poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (p(HPMA)) as an alternative to traditional carbon or organic polymer supports. The film forms a stable, continuous interfacial layer that promotes homogeneous nanoparticle dispersion and minimizes aggregation, critical factors for accurate analysis of nanoscale interfacial interactions. By embedding nanoparticles within the hydrated polymer matrix, the film provides a consistent and reproducible interface, enabling detailed observation of particle behavior, stability, and interactions at both solid-liquid and solid-vacuum boundaries. Resolution measurements show improvements of up to 29% over Formvar and 32% over graphene oxide. Film thicknesses range from 3.5 to 22.9 nm, spanning the holes in Lacey and Quantifoil grids. The film is produced using a rapid, scalable casting method using standard laboratory materials. TEM and STEM imaging confirm its structural and beam stability under accelerating voltages up to 200 kV. Nanoparticle dispersion and film integrity are preserved for at least six months. These findings highlight the potential of this polymer-based support film as a cost-effective and sustainable platform for high-resolution electron microscopy, with broad relevance to colloid and interface science, nanomedicine, and environmental nanotechnology.

Návaznosti

90242, velká výzkumná infrastruktura

Název: CIISB III

Citovat

PALKOVA, Lenka; Vilem NEDELA; Jaroslava BEZDEKOVA; Eva TIHLARIKOVA; Frantisek MARTINEK; Lucie KRACIKOVA; Ladislav ANDROVIC a Richard LAGA. New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis in STEM/ TEM. Applied Surface Science Advances. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER, 2025, roč. 30, Dec, s. 1-15. ISSN 2666-5239. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsadv.2025.100859.

@article{2559449,
   author = {Palkova, Lenka and Nedela, Vilem and Bezdekova, Jaroslava and Tihlarikova, Eva and Martinek, Frantisek and Kracikova, Lucie and Androvic, Ladislav and Laga, Richard},
   article_location = {AMSTERDAM},
   article_number = {Dec},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsadv.2025.100859},
   keywords = {Nanoparticle; STEM; TEM; Polymer; Grid; Film; Layer},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2666-5239},
   journal = {Applied Surface Science Advances},
   title = {New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis in STEM/ TEM},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925001692?pes=vor&utm_source=clarivate&getft_integrator=clarivate},
   volume = {30},
   year = {2025}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2559449
AU  - Palkova, Lenka - Nedela, Vilem - Bezdekova, Jaroslava - Tihlarikova, Eva - Martinek, Frantisek - Kracikova, Lucie - Androvic, Ladislav - Laga, Richard
PY  - 2025
TI  - New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis in STEM/ TEM
JF  - Applied Surface Science Advances
VL  - 30
IS  - Dec
SP  - 1-15
EP  - 1-15
PB  - ELSEVIER
SN  - 26665239
KW  - Nanoparticle
KW  - STEM
KW  - TEM
KW  - Polymer
KW  - Grid
KW  - Film
KW  - Layer
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925001692?pes=vor&utm_source=clarivate&getft_integrator=clarivate
N2  - The demand for high-resolution imaging of nanomaterials continues to grow across disciplines. However, conventional support films for transmission and scanning transmission electron microscopy (TEM/STEM) are often limited by low beam resistance, suboptimal resolution, toxicity concerns, and high production costs. This study introduces a new application of a self-supporting, biocompatible thin film composed of hydrophilic, crosslinked poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (p(HPMA)) as an alternative to traditional carbon or organic polymer supports. The film forms a stable, continuous interfacial layer that promotes homogeneous nanoparticle dispersion and minimizes aggregation, critical factors for accurate analysis of nanoscale interfacial interactions. By embedding nanoparticles within the hydrated polymer matrix, the film provides a consistent and reproducible interface, enabling detailed observation of particle behavior, stability, and interactions at both solid-liquid and solid-vacuum boundaries. Resolution measurements show improvements of up to 29% over Formvar and 32% over graphene oxide. Film thicknesses range from 3.5 to 22.9 nm, spanning the holes in Lacey and Quantifoil grids. The film is produced using a rapid, scalable casting method using standard laboratory materials. TEM and STEM imaging confirm its structural and beam stability under accelerating voltages up to 200 kV. Nanoparticle dispersion and film integrity are preserved for at least six months. These findings highlight the potential of this polymer-based support film as a cost-effective and sustainable platform for high-resolution electron microscopy, with broad relevance to colloid and interface science, nanomedicine, and environmental nanotechnology.
ER  -

PALKOVA, Lenka; Vilem NEDELA; Jaroslava BEZDEKOVA; Eva TIHLARIKOVA; Frantisek MARTINEK; Lucie KRACIKOVA; Ladislav ANDROVIC a Richard LAGA. New self-supporting polymer thin film for nanoparticle analysis in STEM/ TEM. \textit{Applied Surface Science Advances}. AMSTERDAM: ELSEVIER, 2025, roč.~30, Dec, s.~1-15. ISSN~2666-5239. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsadv.2025.100859.

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