Sorption and transformation of pollutants at the solid-water interface are fundamental questions in environmental and geological sciences. Current research in this area is limited by the lack of advanced tools for direct observations and measurements of reactions at the solid-water interface. Since 2011, our research focuses on developing spherical aberration-corrected scanning analytical transmission electron microscopy (Cs-AEM) integrated with characteristic X-ray spectra (XEDS) and electron energy loss (EEL) spectra to the characterization of environmental nanomaterials and interface phase reactions of heavy metal in iron derived nanomaterials. For the first time, the encapsulation of uranium in nanoscale zero-valent iron was discovered and reaction mechanisms were delineated at electronic and atomic scale. Atomic resolution 3D images of arsenic at the metallic iron and iron oxide interfaces were unprecedentedly obtained. Mechanisms on heavy metal reactions at the interfaces of iron derived nanomaterials and contaminated water were explained with atomic-resolution evidence. Results show that Cs-AES is a powerful tool for studying reactions at the solid-water interface. In addition, the potential ability of Cs-AEM integrated with in-situ liquid cell for mapping pollutant reactions at the solid-water interface will be demonstrated.

Spherical aberration corrected analytical transmission electron microscopy (Cs-AEM) for mapping pollutant reactions at the solid-water interface

256th National Meeting (2018)

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