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K-kits are sample holders designed to facilitate convenient TEM observation of liquid samples, allowing nanoobjects, aggregates, and agglomerates (NOAAs) in liquid samples to be characterized; with vacuum compatible sealing of liquids in electron-transmitting thickness, K-kits are micro reaction chambers for countless experiments in materials, chemical and biological research. |
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The loaded liquid sample is sealed and imaged using TEM in the native liquid environment. (Acceptable image quality with liquid inside the K-kit) | ||
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A patented liquid drying protocol preserves the original morphology and physical state of nanomaterials with improved imaging resolution. (Very good image quality, due the the channel being dried out) | ||
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| K-kit Original physical state | Conventional Aggregated as drying on Cu grid |
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(Nanoparticles of CMP Slurry in K-kit and on Cu grid) | ||
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1. Afforable cost for Liquid TEM (Accessible to general researchers and industries) |
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2. Relatively thinner of liquid layer (resulting in better image quality) | |
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K-kit (Uni-body, loaded by capillary action) | Special holder + Two chips (Two chips, assembly with a clamping force) |
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Thinner liquid layer, due to cohesion force | Thicker liquid layer, due to compressive force |
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3. The fastest solution for liquid-TEM observation (only 30min required for a K-kit in sample preparation) |
![]() K-kit | 90min required for 10 samples Liquid loading and gluing for 10 K-kits (~70min) + vacuum pumping (~20min) | |
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E-Chip | 450min at least for 10 samples One by one; it needs the steps including surface treatment, assembly, leakage detection, and post-cleaning etc. for each. (> 45min for each) |
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After soaking the K-kit sealing glues (Torr Seal) in those chemicals individually for 24 hours, the FTIR analysis results looked perfect. | ||
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(Observed by optical microscope, in transmission mode) | |
![]() | K-kit is a powerful and convenient tool for liquid-TEM application; as shown the test result, even such sticky the sample C or oily liquid of the sample A, which were all successfully loaded with K-kit. |
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(Example) By using K-kits to observe the gold reduction process occurred in TEM from AuCl4 solution. As shown the result in wet mode, the particles with minimum sizes of around 2nm could also be clearly imaged. (by Hitachi HT7700 @100KV) | |
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( K-kit sample: wet mode; gap height: 200nm; SiN membrane: 30nm ) |
(Example) By using K-kits to observe the gold nanoparticles formed from the reduction process of AuCl4 solution in K-kit. As shown the TEM images below, the lattice lines of gold particles could be clearly observed by using SiN30nm K-kit. (by FEI Talos TEM @ 200KV) | ||
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( K-kit sample: wet mode; gap height: 200nm; SiN membrane: 30nm ) |
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(Example) The polystyrene beads in dry mode of K-kit can be also clearly identified by BF/DF/HAADF in SEM/STEM. | ||
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Bright Field (BF) Dark Field (DF) HAADF | ||
(K-kit sample: dried mode; gap height: 2000nm; SiN film thickness: 30nm; observed with FEI Helios 400) |
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| By pointing the window long side to the detector and tilting the holder at some angles, which could make the EDX analysis achievable on a k-kit. |
![]() Tilt Angle = 0 | ![]() Tilt Angle = 20 | |
(Gap 0.2um K-kit in wet mode; Liquid Sample: AuCl3; TEM: Hitachi HT7700) |
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![]() | Example:
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NBD (Nano-beam diffraction) | |
SAD (Selective area diffraction) | |
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The first loading with liquid sample A (Such as liposomes/ LDL) | The K-kit prepared in dry mode for the first liquid | The second loading with liquid sample B (Such like staining solution) | The K-kit in dry mode again for the second liquid | |||
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(Example 1) Liposomes after negative staining treatment |
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(Gap0.2um/SiN30nm K-kits) ![]() |
The original look of particle distribution in liquid can be observed by K-kit and Cyro-TEM, whereas Cyro-TEM is very expensive and not easy to be done well. | ||
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Cryo-TEM (In formula) | On Cu grid (Negative stain) | In K-kit (Negative stain) |
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(Example 2) platelet granules in K-kit | ||
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Negative staining TEM images of isolated platelet granules in K-kit | Immunoelectron micrographs of isolated platelet granules in K-kit (Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 4946) |
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QDs Particles in Chloroform | |||||
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Dynamic Observation of Silicate Nanoparticles ![]() | |||||
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Abrasives in CMP Slurry (K-kit vs. Cyro) ![]() | |||||
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( After a K-kit being used, one can put it back to the carrier for a well-managed storage ) | |||||
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User Guide A (Handling by Tools) | User Guide B (Handling by Tweezers) | Remove the Tips of K-kits by Tweezers | Replace the Needle from a Needle Pen |
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K-kit User Guide ( Handling with tweezers & Starter box) |