Imaging of soft-matter particulate systems using electron microscopy

Electron microscopy is one of the most successful methodologies used when nanometer scale imaging resolution is required. However, this type of imaging requires dehydration and fixing of the samples, employing laborious techniques that can modify their morphology and quenches their dynamics. The proposed work focused on the development of sample preparation methods that rely on embedding them in wet cells and ionic liquids, allowing them to respond to environmental conditions. In particular for microgel type systems this allows direct imaging of single particle dynamics and the correlation with light scattering studies on large assemblies. This enables the development of better models to understand their behavior.