冰的原位透射电子显微学表征：挑战和机遇

冰的原位透射电子显微学表征：挑战和机遇

黄旭丹，白雪冬，王立芬^*

（北京凝聚态物理国家研究中心，中国科学院物理研究所，北京 100190）

摘　要　　冰是自然界中最重要且分布最广泛的固体之一，在气候调节、生态系统维系及人类生产生活中发挥着不可替代的作用。然而，其微观结构及结晶、相变、缺陷行为等过程中的动力学机制仍有待深入揭示。透射电子显微镜（TEM）具备原子级成像和谱学分析能力，是研究冰的微观结构与动态行为的有力工具。然而，冰对电子束极为敏感，且在镜筒高真空环境中易发生升华，这些特性严重限制了常规 TEM 技术在冰表征中的适用性。本文系统回顾了冰的微观结构及早期 TEM 在该领域中的基础应用，接着综述了近年来由于低剂量成像技术与原位电镜技术的发展，冰的分子级成像和微观动力学研究的代表性进展，并展望了透射电镜在未来冰科学研究中的应用前景。本文旨在为深入理解冰的微观机制提供新的技术路径与研究视角。

关键词　　冰；低剂量成像；原位透射电子显微学；形核结晶

中图分类号：TB303；O742；O7；TG115.21⁺5.3　　文献标识码：A Doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-6281.2025.05.011

In situ transmission electron microscopy of ice: Challenge and opportunity

HUANG Xudan, BAI Xuedong, WANG Lifen^*

(Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China)

Abstract　　Ice is ubiquitous in nature and plays a crucial role across numerous scientific and technological fields. However, its microstructure and dynamic behaviors—such as crystallization, deformation, and defect evolution—remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with its atomic-scale imaging and spectroscopic capabilities, offers a powerful platform for studying ice. Nevertheless, the extreme sensitivity of ice to electron-beam irradiation and its tendency to sublimate under vacuum conditions poses significant challenges for conventional TEM observations. This review presents an overview of ice structure and early applications of TEM in this field. It then discusses the inherent difficulties in characterizing ice using TEM, with particular emphasis on beam-induced damage. Recent advances in imaging ice microstructures and investigating its dynamics behavior—enabled by the development of low-dose imaging techniques and in situ electron microscopy—are highlighted. This work aims to provide insights into advancing the fundamental understanding of ice at the microscopic level through novel technical approaches.

Keywords　　ice; low-dose imaging; in situ TEM; defect; nucleation and crystallization

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