Name: TEM Gas Heating
Brand: Hummingbird Scientific

Recreate realistic reaction environments inside your TEM with precise gas delivery, closed-loop heating above 1000 °C, and atomic-resolution imaging

Controlled Gas Environment for In-Situ TEM

The TEM Gas Heating Sample Holder enables in-situ TEM and STEM imaging of dynamic gas–solid reactions under controlled environmental conditions. A sealed environmental cell with electron-transparent silicon nitride (SiN) windows isolates the reactive gas environment from the microscope vacuum while supporting gas flow up to 2 bar and closed-loop MEMS heating above 1000 °C. A precision-engineered, screw-free loading and sealing mechanism enables fast, reproducible sample loading and automatic window alignment. Optimized holder geometry and a low thermal mass MEMS microheater provide stable imaging during high-temperature experiments. The holder supports compatible microfabricated chips for MEMS heating and electrical biasing, with optional multi-channel gas delivery for controlled gas mixing and advanced in-situ TEM studies.

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Built for Advanced Gas-Phase TEM

Designed for researchers in materials science, chemistry, catalysis, energy storage, environmental science, and nanotechnology, the platform enables in-situ investigation of heterogeneous catalyst performance, corrosion, thin-film deposition and dissolution, nanoparticle dynamics, temperature-dependent reactions, redox processes, and gas–solid interfacial transformations under controlled gaseous environments.

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Reveal the Mechanisms Behind Gas–Solid Reactions

Gas–solid reactions often involve transient atomic- and nanoscale transformations that determine material performance but are difficult to capture with conventional techniques. By combining controlled gas composition and pressure with closed-loop MEMS heating and electrical biasing, the holder allows correlation of structural evolution with applied stimuli to reveal the reaction pathways and transformations governing material performance, stability, and degradation.

Hummingbird Advantages:

Features screw-free gas-cell assembly with self-aligning windows for fast, reproducible sample loading.
Perform experiments with gas flow up to 2 bar, optional multi-channel delivery of up to eight gases, a dedicated purge line, and real-time output gas analysis.
Observe high-temperature gas-phase material transformations with closed-loop MEMS heating above 1000 °C and on-chip temperature sensing.
Preserve analytical performance with full EELS and EDS compatibility.
Maintain a clean gas environment with a fully bakeable all-metal sample rod and gas delivery tubing.
Choose from a broad range of microfabricated chips with multiple heater configurations, window dimensions, and electrode materials to match your experiment.
Compatible with TEM, SEM, and X-ray microscopy workflows using cross-platform microfabricated chips.
Support diverse applications including catalysis, corrosion, nanoparticle dynamics, thin-film growth, redox reactions, and high-temperature materials research.

Technical Specs

1300 series – 1+1 Channel Gas Delivery

1300 Series – Multi-Channel Gas Delivery

Pressure Range at Sample

1 to 2 bar

10⁻⁶ mbar up to 2 bar

Holder Gas Inlets/Outlets

1 inlet and 1 outlet on the holder

Gas Controller Configuration

1 experimental gas and 1 inert purge gas

2–8 experimental gases, up to 1 vapor, and 1 inert purge gas

Purge Capability

Yes

Gas Analysis Capability

No

Yes

Tubing System

All metal

Heating Temperature

>1000 °C

Biasing Contacts

4 contacts

Holder Cleaning

Bakeable to 160 °C

EELS / EDS Compatible

Yes

Available For:

How it Works

The TEM Gas Heating Sample Holder integrates a sealed environmental cell, all-metal gas delivery tubing, multifunctional microfabricated chips, electrical biasing connections, and dedicated control hardware into a versatile platform for in-situ gas-phase TEM and STEM experiments. The environmental cell is formed by two microfabricated silicon chips with electron-transparent silicon nitride (SiN) windows. A sample is loaded onto one of the chips before the two chips are sealed together, creating a controlled gas environment around the specimen that remains isolated from the microscope vacuum.

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A precision-engineered, screw-free loading and sealing mechanism enables fast, reproducible sample loading and automatic alignment of the SiN windows. Controlled gas flow is delivered through the sealed environmental cell at pressures up to 2 bar using Hummingbird Scientific's gas delivery systems, with optional multi-channel delivery supporting controlled mixing of up to eight gases, a dedicated purge line, and real-time output gas analysis. Optimized holder geometry and a low thermal mass MEMS microheater provide stable imaging during high-temperature experiments with closed-loop heating above 1000 °C and integrated 4-point on-chip temperature sensing.

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Compatible microfabricated chips for MEMS heating and electrical biasing enable thermal and electrical stimuli to be applied during controlled gas-phase experiments, allowing researchers to observe gas–solid reactions, phase transformations, and degradation processes in real time at atomic resolution.

Key Features and Capabilities

Built for Diverse Research Applications

Catalysis

Directly observe the mechanisms that drive catalyst activity, selectivity, and degradation.

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Structure-Performance Relationship

Catalyst Structural Transformations

Catalyst Chemical Transformations

Catalyst Redox

Low Dimensional Materials

Study growth, electrochemistry, and structural evolution in 2D materials, nanowires, and quantum dots.

2D Materials Growth

Ion Intercalation

Defect Evolution

Phase Transformations

Surface Chemistry

Synthesis

Uncover nucleation and crystal growth mechanisms, quantify growth kinetics, and optimize synthesis conditions.

Nucleation & Growth

Crystal Growth Kinetics

Morphology Control

Reaction Pathway Analysis

Growth Process Optimization

Featured Research

HAADF-STEM images of the hybrid supporting oxide a) and the resultant Pt-containing catalysts b–d). e) In-situ tracking of Ce⁴⁺ concentration and temperature for the in situ XAS and STXM CO oxidation (1 vol.% CO +4 vol.% O₂ + 95 vol.% Ar) experiment. f) Enhanced specific mass activity of PCT during repeated and prolonged CO oxidation reaction. The MA of Pt was increased by 3.3 times from PCT-1 to PCT-10 h. The MA of PT catalyst without Ce addition was increased by 9.6 times upon adding 2 wt.% of Ce (from PT to PCT-1).

In-situ characterization of Pt nanoparticle disintegration during CO oxidation on hybrid oxide supports

The Hummingbird Scientific TEM Gas Heating sample holder was used to directly observe the structural evolution of Pt nanoparticles supported on CeOₓ–TiO₂ hybrid oxides during carbon monoxide oxidation. In-situ STEM imaging under flowing reaction gas conditions revealed the dynamic disintegration of Pt nanoparticles into single atoms and sub-nanometer clusters at elevated temperature, while complementary X-ray spectroscopy and microscopy tracked changes in the support oxidation state. The holder enabled correlation of catalyst morphology with catalytic performance, showing that oxygen-driven restructuring of Pt at the oxide interface led to a threefold increase in mass-specific activity during CO oxidation. These results apply in-situ gas-heating TEM to reveal catalyst activation pathways that are inaccessible through ex-situ characterization.

Reference: Eunji Kang, et al. Small (2025). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202506990

Abstract

Video Spotlight

Video showing ferrihydrite nanoparticle fragmentation and restructuring during a phase transformation into magnetite in a heated gaseous environment.

In-situ high-temperature ferrihydrite reduction in H₂ gas

Although ferrihydrites do not typically catalyze reactions in gaseous environments, multiple transient Fe-based heterogeneous catalysts such as magnetite can be produced by activation of ferrihydrite nanoparticles via hydrogen reduction, with a strong dependence on applied conditions. The TEM Gas Heating holder enables direct connection of applied pressure, temperature, and beam conditions to transient nanocatalyst formation dynamics.

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The video shows ferrihydrite nanoparticle reduction to fragmented magnetite in 1.1 bar of hydrogen gas flown into the TEM gas cell. The imaging stability across the temperature range enabled real-time grain restructuring and phase changes of particles from amorphous to a crystalline structure to be captured as the particle was reduced when heated to 360°C in the presence of H₂.

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Hummingbird Advantage
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Resolution at temperature and pressure nearly match vacuum imaging performance

Drift at temperature matches room temperature TEM drift spec – no need for drift correction software

Reference: Hummingbird Scientific internal data in collaboration with Jaco Olivier, Matthew Coombes, and Jan Neethling from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa

High Impact Publications

Trusted by researchers worldwide, the Hummingbird Scientific TEM Gas Heating sample holder has contributed to 40+ peer-reviewed publications from leading universities, national laboratories, and research institutions worldwide in Nature, Small, ACS Nano, Advanced Materials, and other leading journals.

In situ investigation of the formation and metastability of formamidinium lead tri-iodide perovskite solar cells

Jeffery A. Aguiar, Sarah Wozny, Terry G. Holesinger, Toshihiro Aoki, Maulik K. Patel, Mengjin Yang, Joseph J. Berry, Mowafak Al-Jassim, Weilie Zhou, Kai Zhu

Energy & Environmental Science

2016

Abstract

Dedicated Beamline Facilities for Catalytic Research. Synchrotron Catalysis Consortium (SCC)

Jingguang Chen, Anatoly Frenkel, Jose Rodriguez, Radoslav Adzic, Simon R. Bare, Steve L. Hulbert, Ayman Karim, David R. Mullins, Steve Overbury

DOE Technical Report

2015

Abstract

Correlative and dynamic in situ S/TEM characterization of heavily irradiated pyrochlores and fluorites

T.G. Holesinger, S. Dey, J.A. Aguiar, P.A. Papin, J.A. Valdez, Y. Wang, B.P. Uberuaga, R.H.R. Castro

Microscopy and Microanalysis

2015

Abstract

Complex structural dynamics of nanocatalysts revealed in Operando conditions by correlated imaging and spectroscopy probes

Y. Li, D. Zakharov, S. Zhao, R. Tappero, U. Jung, A. Elsen, Ph. Baumann, R.G. Nuzzo, E.A. Stach, A.I. Frenkel

Nature Communications

2015

Abstract

Browse All Publications

Software

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.

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To help you get the most from your gas-cell holder, Hummingbird Control™ Software provides intuitive and precise control of closed loop gas heating. Together, these software solutions enable faster setup, improved reproducibility, and more efficient gas-phase TEM experiments.

Multichannel Gas Delivery Control

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Single Channel Gas Delivery Control

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Gas Heating Control

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Hummingbird Connect™Hummingbird Control™ Software

Built on Engineering Excellence

Hummingbird Scientific designs, machines, assembles, tests, and services its products in-house. Our integrated engineering, machining, microfabrication, software development, and applications teams enable rapid prototyping and iteration, 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.

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The TEM Gas Heating Sample Holder is a direct result of these capabilities, integrating controlled gas delivery, MEMS heating, and experimental workflows into a single platform for reproducible in-situ gas-phase TEM experiments.

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Need something unique? Our engineers can customize existing products or develop entirely new solutions to support specialized experiments and emerging research challenges.

Engineering Process Custom Solutions