The Hummingbird Scientific SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder is the first in-situ liquid-phase SEM platform designed to reproduce true bulk electrochemical behavior inside the SEM. Unlike conventional liquid-cell SEM systems that rely on patterned on-chip electrodes, it incorporates off-chip bulk reference and counter electrodes to deliver electrochemical measurements that closely match benchtop experiments while enabling simultaneous nanoscale imaging.
Ideal for researchers studying liquid-phase electrochemical processes in batteries, electrocatalysts, and energy materials, where direct observation of reaction mechanisms and material evolution at the nanoscale is critical.
Electrochemical measurements alone often cannot reveal why materials succeed, degrade, or fail. The holder is optimized for versatility in SEM environments with multiple unique detectors including scattered (BSE and SE) and transmission (STEM) oriented around the sample stage inside of an evacuated chamber. By directly correlating electrochemical data with real-time nanoscale observations, researchers can uncover reaction pathways, structural transformations, and degradation mechanisms that govern material behavior, accelerating the development of next-generation energy and electrochemical technologies.
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The SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder integrates a sealed microfluidic liquid cell with true bulk reference and counter electrodes positioned off-chip, enabling accurate electrochemical control within the SEM. Real reference electrodes (e.g., Ag/AgCl) provide stable potentials, while bulk counter electrodes (e.g., Pt) support consistent current flow, eliminating the instability and drift common in on-chip systems.
During operation, electrolyte flows through the liquid cell while electrochemical cycling is performed on the working electrode under direct electron beam observation. This architecture decouples electrochemical performance from geometric and material limitations of on-chip microfabricated electrodes, delivering reproducible current voltage responses with well-defined redox peaks closely matching bulk electroanalytical behavior while simultaneously enabling nanometer resolution imaging in liquid environments.
Perform in-situ liquid-phase electrochemistry that matches benchtop performance
Achieve reproducible liquid-cell assembly with self-aligning windows and a screw-free sealing design
Simplify cleaning with removable and upgradeable holder tips that allow user access for full tubing replacement
Image samples in continuous-flow or static liquid environments using a sealed microfluidic chip assembly
Correlate electrochemical, heating, and imaging data across TEM, SEM, and X-ray microscopy platforms
Perform correlative spectroscopy and microscopy for detailed in-situ elemental analysis
Protect your SEM during liquid-cell experiments and streamline experimental workflows with rapid high-vacuum seal checking
Keep experiments moving with in-stock liquid-cell SEM chips designed for electrochemistry, liquid flow, heating, and multimodal microscopy workflows
Add temperature-controlled liquid-phase SEM capabilities with homogeneous heating concurrent with electrochemical control, precise temperature regulation, and near-drift-free in-situ imaging
Accelerate discovery with dual-flow liquid mixing for in-situ liquid phase SEM, capturing dynamic liquid-liquid reactions with greater control and flexibility
Expand the capabilities of the SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry sample holder with the BioLogic SP-200 potentiostat for quantitative in-situ SEM electrochemistry
Al corrosion rates as a function of the applied current with inset SEM micrographs showing representative corrosion morphological evolution. Black diamond symbols depict the corrosion rates determined following Faraday’s law, whereas the pink bars show the experimentally acquired corrosion rates.
Real-time SEM imaging of localized anodic corrosion and hydrogen evolution in aluminum
The Hummingbird Scientific SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry sample holder was used to directly visualize localized anodic corrosion of aluminum at the solid–liquid interface during controlled electrochemical measurements. By combining operando liquid-phase SEM imaging with galvanostatic electrochemical control, researchers monitored the initiation and growth of corrosion pits in real time. The study revealed the progression from early surface blister formation and nanoscale pit nucleation to complex fractal-like dissolution morphologies as corrosion advanced. Operando imaging also captured hydrogen bubble formation at active corrosion fronts, which was subsequently confirmed as molecular hydrogen. The holder’s bulk electrochemistry architecture enabled quantitative electrochemical measurements to be directly connected to dynamic mechanisms governing corrosion initiation and evolution.
Reference: Morgan Barbey-Binggeli, et al. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5c11352
Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Copper electrodeposition and dissolution visualized in real time within a CuSO₄ electrolyte using the SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder. The corresponding current and voltage profiles show stable, repeatable bulk-representative electrochemical behavior across multiple cycles.
In-situ SEM showing nucleation and growth of Cu cubes during electrochemical cycling
Typical in-situ SEM liquid-phase electrochemistry uses on-chip electrodes that can reduce fidelity due to confined geometries, unstable reference potentials, and cycling-induced degradation. The SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder uses off-chip bulk reference and counter electrodes to enable stable, reproducible electrochemical performance that closely reproduces benchtop behavior inside SEM.
The video shows Cu electrodeposition and dissolution in CuSO₄ under alternating potential cycling. Particle morphology evolves with cycle number. Operando SEM reveals Cu cube nucleation in the first cycle, followed by layer growth and partial dissolution, enabling controlled morphology tuning. Cyclic voltammetry remains stable across cycles, confirming bulk-representative electrochemical behavior.
Hummingbird Advantages
Reference: Philipp Grosse, et al, J. Phys. Chem. C (2020). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c09105
Video Copyright © 2021 American Chemical Society
Spend less time managing equipment and more time generating results. Hummingbird Connect integrates with microscope and laboratory software platforms to simplify experiment setup, streamline workflows, and keep your data organized from acquisition through analysis.
To help you get the most from your liquid-cell holder, Hummingbird Control Software provides intuitive and precise control of closed loop liquid heating. Together, these software solutions enable faster setup, improved reproducibility, and more efficient liquid-phase and electrochemical SEM experiments.
Hummingbird Scientific designs, machines, assembles, tests, and services its products in-house. Our integrated engineering, machining, microfabrication, software development, and applications teams enable rapid product development, custom modifications, and direct technical support throughout the life of the instrument. This vertically integrated approach allows researchers to adapt experimental platforms to unique scientific requirements while maintaining the performance and reliability required for advanced in-situ microscopy experiments.
The SEM Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder is a direct result of these capabilities, enabling reproducible true bulk electrochemical measurements combined with in-situ nanoscale imaging.
Need something unique? Our engineers can customize existing products or develop entirely new solutions to support specialized experiments and emerging research challenges.
