120kV Transmission Electron Microscope

• Subject Area: Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
• Term: Funded in 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 547493565

In nanophysics, which is prominently represented at LMU through the Center for NanoScience (CeNS), electron microscopic imaging is an essential component of the analysis of natural and artificial nanostructures. Typical applications of the Transmission Electron Microscope operated at the Rädler Group include imaging DNA origami structures, ultrathin sections of cells, morphology of lipid nanoparticles, interactions between membranes and biomolecules, or protein-protein interactions. Additionally, research groups affiliated with CeNS currently utilize this instrument for imaging thin or low-contrast samples (graphene, perovskite nanoplatelets, nanodiamonds...) and for the characterization of nanoparticles of various materials (Au, Ag, CdS, CdS/ZnS, Fe3O4...). The extensive preparation and imaging experience of our staff is regularly utilized by other CeNS groups and beyond. The broad range of applications results in an extremely high utilization of the device, including within the scope of currently three ERC projects, through the SFB 1032 (Nanoagents) and the cluster of excellence "e-conversion". A focal point of Prof. Rädler's research is the investigation of nanoscopic gene carriers, particularly lipid nanoparticles now also employed in vaccines. Prof. Liedl's research group has established the synthesis and conjugation of DNA origami structures with nanoparticles and now utilizes the technique to fabricate nanostructures for two major areas: plasmonic sensing (chiral, switchable systems for analytical detection; plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence) and energy transfer in nanosystems (organic photovoltaics structured on the nanoscale). The requested Transmission Electron Microscope is intended for the examination of nano-bio structures. This notably includes biological cellular systems, artificial DNA-based nanostructures, as well as solid-state nanoparticles and nanoscopically structured 2D systems. The microscope should cover all previous applications. To bridge the gap between nanometer and millimeter scales in various samples, the device should also enable both correlation microscopy between TEM (nm) and optical methods (µm-mm) and tomography. The device is explicitly not planned for high-resolution structural elucidation but rather aims primarily at detecting spatial structures in nano-bio systems with nanometer-scale resolution in conventional transmission mode. This is essential both for investigating chiral structures and in studies on the structural elucidation of the morphology and mesophases of lipid nanoparticles.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: 120kV Transmissions-Elektronenmikroskop
• Instrumentation Group: 5100 Elektronenmikroskope (Transmission)
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Leader: Professor Dr. Tim Liedl