The Hummingbird Scientific TEM Optical Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder combines integrated optical illumination with true bulk liquid electrochemistry, enabling researchers to investigate light-driven electrochemical processes during in-situ TEM. A sealed liquid cell and off-chip bulk reference (e.g. Ag/AgCl) and counter electrodes (e.g. Pt) provide stable, reproducible electrochemical control that closely replicates conventional benchtop electrochemical measurements while controlled optical illumination stimulates photoresponsive materials inside the TEM.
Ideal for researchers studying photocatalysts, photoelectrochemical systems, solar energy materials, light-responsive semiconductors, electrocatalysts, and other materials whose behavior changes under optical illumination, the holder enables direct correlation of light exposure with electrochemical response, structural evolution, and dynamic interfacial processes at the nanoscale.
Understanding how light influences electrochemical behavior is critical for advancing energy conversion, catalysis, and functional materials. By combining controlled optical stimulation with benchtop-quality electrochemical performance inside the TEM, researchers can directly observe reaction pathways, phase transformations, ion transport, and degradation mechanisms in real time, providing insights that are difficult to obtain using conventional electrochemical techniques alone.
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The TEM Optical Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry sample holder integrates a sealed microfluidic cell, true bulk reference electrode (RE) and counter electrode (CE) positioned off chip, and a fiber optic feedthrough to allow accurate photo-electrochemical control within the TEM. A real Ag/AgCl RE provides stable reference potentials, while the bulk CE supports consistent current flow, eliminating scan instability and drift common in on-chip 3-electrode systems. Electrolyte flows through the cell while electrochemical cycling is performed on the working electrode under direct nanoscale e-beam observation and stimulation by a light source.
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 that closely match bulk photo-electroanalytical behavior.
Illuminate photoresponsive samples with controlled optical stimulation during in-situ TEM experiments
Perform in-situ liquid-phase electrochemistry that matches benchtop performance
Easy, reproducible liquid-cell assembly with self-aligning windows and a screw-free sealing design
Image samples in continuous-flow or static liquid environments using a sealed microfluidic chip assembly
Simplify cleaning with removable and upgradeable holder tips that allow user access for full tubing replacement
Perform correlative spectroscopy and microscopy for detailed in-situ elemental analysis
Protect your TEM during liquid-cell experiments and streamline setup with rapid high-vacuum seal checking and optical inspection
Keep experiments moving with in-stock liquid-cell TEM chips designed for electrochemistry, liquid flow, heating, and multimodal microscopy workflows
Add temperature-controlled liquid-phase TEM capabilities with homogeneous heating, precise temperature regulation, and near-drift-free in-situ imaging
Expand the capabilities of the TEM Optical Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry sample holder with the BioLogic SP-200 potentiostat for quantitative in-situ TEM electrochemistry
In-situ TEM video showing hydrogen bubble formation on a MoS2 working electrode formed by white light-stimulated water splitting during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Operando optical imaging of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on MoS₂ in liquid
The Hummingbird Scientific TEM Optical Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder enabled direct optical illumination of hydrogen evolution during photocatalytic water splitting in a liquid environment. A MoS₂-based working electrode immersed in water is illuminated with white light during operando electrochemical measurements. Gas bubble formation is observed at the active electrode surface, providing a visual indication of hydrogen generation during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Hummingbird Advantages
Reference: Hummingbird Scientific internal data in collaboration with Deep Jariwala and Eric Stach, University of Pennsylvania
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 TEM 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 TEM Optical Bulk Liquid Electrochemistry Sample Holder is a direct result of these capabilities, enabling reproducible true bulk electrochemical measurements combined with in-situ light stimulation and nanoscale imaging.
Need something unique? Our engineers can customize existing products or develop entirely new solutions to support specialized experiments and emerging research challenges.
