Probing the Spatial Distribution and Morphology of Supported Nanoparticles Using Rutherford-Scattered Electron Imaging

Images of supported nanoparticle catalysts have been recorded by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), with a combination of high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging and back-scattered electron (BSE) imaging, which both utilize Rutherford-scattered electrons. The incoherent scattering process ensures that images are ideal for electron tomography and the reconstruction of 3D nanoparticle distributions (such as palladium on carbon, see picture).