Groundbreaking microscopy initiative features materials faculty

Revolutions in atomic scale microscopy are promised as part of the new Center for Multimodal Observations for Single Atom Imaging of Chemistry (MOSAIC), located at the University of Chicago. 

The goal of the project is to join researchers from UChicago, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois Chicago in the pursuit of techniques that will transform electron microscopy and advance the field of chemistry. Observing chemical reactions in real time at the atomic scale, and with a groundbreaking level of detail, could alter our understanding of how reactions work, achieving potential breakthroughs in areas such as catalysis, energy storage and the development of new materials.

“The center will harness cutting-edge technologies, including advanced liquid cell platforms and state-of-the-art scanning and transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM), to delve into the intricacies of three key chemical systems: single-atom catalysts (SACs), clusters, and organic molecules,” a UChicago press release explained. 

Scientists will be able to observe reactions in high detail by using Graphene Liquid Cells (GLCs). This will help the team visualize reactions at different scales, including everything from single atoms to clusters and two-dimensional materials. 

“MOSAIC aims to achieve atomic-scale characterization of chemical reactions and correlate them to spatial configurations, atomistic structures and compositions in systems of atoms, molecules, clusters and nanocrystals,” the release added. “The insights from in situ atomistic characterization will be further combined with theory and modeling to advance mechanistic understanding of reaction mechanisms.”

Professor and Racheff Faculty Scholar Qian Chen of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering is a co-principal investigator of MOSAIC. She is confident the initiative will prove impactful.

“I am extremely excited to work with this interdisciplinary team on the next-generation liquid-phase electron microscopy technology and to realize the dream of watching chemical reactions from the atomic level,” Chen said. “The world-leading electron microscopy capabilities at the Materials Research Laboratory of the U. of I. are crucial for this advancement.” 

Chen is joined by colleagues from UChicago and UIC in taking advantage of what MOSAIC has to offer. The grant is led by Professor Paul Alivisatos, president of UChicago. As principal investigator and the center’s director, he will leverage his work to advance inorganic nanocrystal research toward MOSAIC goals. 

Other co-PIs include Professor Jiwoong Park of UChicago, who brings expertise in 2D materials, Professor Gregory Girolami of the Illinois Department of Chemistry, Professor Robert Klie of UIC and Maria K. Chan of the Argonne National Laboratory.

MOSAIC is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) program.