Grant: Idea to Innovation

This proposal focuses on the development of the components necessary for the study of drop-casted in-liquid specimens with sub-nanometre resolution by Liquid-Phase Transmission Electron Microscopy (LP-TEM). LP-TEM is a novel electron microscopy method that is used to characterize a variety of hard or soft nanomaterials and biological specimens that are suspended in a carrier liquid. It relies on the implementation of a nanofluidic cell (NFC), a sensitive device that is capable of encapsulating fluid in a precise and safe manner between two electron-transparent ultrathin windows.This NSERC-I2I Phase I developmental project builds on intellectual property that has been assigned to the University of Waterloo through its Commercialization Office, which filed a patent application titled: "Nanofluidic Cell and Loading Platform". In addition, researchers have very recently filed a provisional patent titled: "Nanofluidic carrier" with key improvements in the NFC shape design.This proposal is put forward to support the third technological innovation that will complete the initial portfolio of product offerings of a Startup in Waterloo, Ontario, that will be incorporated this coming fall 2021.Moreover, the University of Waterloo, on behalf of the principal investigator, and the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM) have recently formalized a memorandum of understanding that will make this LP-TEM technology broadly available to the Canadian TEM community. The team has also signed non-disclosure agreements with Systems for Research and ThermoFisher Scientific (FEI), who expressed interest in becoming beta testers of Waterloo's technologies.