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College News
Transmission Electron
Microscope Enhances
Nanotechnology Research
The Department of Chemical Engineering’s acquisition
of a transmission electron microscope (TEM) is
providing advanced characterization capabilities to
faculty, students, and others throughout the University and
elsewhere. Donated to the department by GE Plastics, the
JEOL 100CX transmission electron microscope offers
approximately one million times magnification and 0.5
nanometer resolution, critical to researchers in
nanotechnology, whose work requires extremely high
magnification and resolution.
“Transmission electron microscopy is the only technique that
allows researchers to see, rather than infer, features at the
nanometer level,” said Rakesh Gupta, WVU professor of
chemical engineering,
who facilitated the
TEM’s acquisition
and set-up.
Vinod Berry, who has
more than three
decades of experience
in electron
microscopy and
related techniques,
manages the facility.
Berry earned his
Ph.D. in metallurgy
from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology,
and worked with GE Plastics, the Dow Chemical Company,
and the University of Texas before coming to WVU.
students use the TEM in their research on nanomaterials and
polymer nanocomposites, in particular. It has been found
that by dispersing as little as 5 vol. % of layered silicates
(nanoclays) in polymers, one can significantly improve
barrier, flammability, and mechanical properties of the
plastic.
For this to be accomplished, the different silicate layers have
to be “exfoliated,” or separated from each other, uniformly
distributed, and randomly oriented. An example of an
exfoliated structure is given in Figure (a), which shows
individual nanoclay platelets dispersed in polypropylene
containing grafted maleic anhydride.
Another example is
shown in Figure (b),
which displays silver
nano-spheres made by
a laser ablation
technique by
researchers at the
National Energy
Technology
Laboratory (NETL).
This is part of Gupta’s
NETL-funded project
aimed at developing
high-thermal
conductivity drilling fluids by the use of metal nanospheres
as additives, a project which may aid in the development of
deep-hole oil and gas drilling.
“Effective transmission electron microscopy depends as much
on sample preparation and the skill and experience of the
operator as it does on the instrument,” said Gupta. “We are
very fortunate to have Dr. Berry as part of our team.”
Interested researchers should contact Gupta at
rakesh.gupta@mail.wvu.edu or Berry at
vinod.berry@mail.wvu.edu.
Berry can help researchers with the TEM characterization of
many materials, including polymers, metals, ceramics,
biological, particulates, suspensions, and more. Gupta and his
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Spring 2007