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Ionic Liquids as Floatation Media for Cryo-Ultramicrotomy of Soft Polymeric Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2013

Paul Kim ,
Emeric David ,
Louis Raboin ,
Alexander E. Ribbe ,
Thomas P. Russell  and
David A. Hoagland
Paul Kim
Affiliation:
Department for Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
Emeric David
Affiliation:
Department for Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
Louis Raboin
Affiliation:
Department for Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
Alexander E. Ribbe
Affiliation:
Department for Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
Thomas P. Russell
Affiliation:
Department for Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
David A. Hoagland*
Affiliation:
Department for Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
*
*Corresponding author.hoagland@mail.pse.umass.edu
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Abstract

Ionic liquids (ILs) and their mixtures with low molecular solvents present ideal properties for use as flotation liquids in cryo-ultramicrotomy. With control of Tg and η by co-solvent addition, flat, ultra-thin sections are reliably floated onto transmission electron microscopy grids even at temperatures as low as −100°C. Even more, the liquids and their mixtures are stable in the microtome trough for several hours because of low vapor pressure and low solidification temperature. Compared to established flotation media for soft polymer systems, the time and skill needed for cryo-ultramicrotomy are significantly reduced. Although just a handful of ILs are discussed and a good general choice identified, if different liquid characteristics are needed for a particular sample, thousands of additional ILs will perform similarly, giving this new approach enormous flexibility.

Keywords

ultramicrotomyionic liquidselectron microscopypolymer
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 19 , Issue 6 , December 2013 , pp. 1554 - 1557
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2013 

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