Berlin 2012 – scientific programme

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 86: Graphene VI

O 86.10: Talk

Friday, March 30, 2012, 12:45–13:00, MA 041

Transmission electron microscopy of biological samples on nanocrystalline graphene support films — •Daniel Rhinow¹, Matthias Büenfeld², Nils-Eike Weber², André Beyer², Armin Gölzhäuser², Werner Kühlbrandt¹, and Andrey Turchanin² — ¹Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysik, 60438 Frankfurt, Deutschland — ²Universität Bielefeld, Fakultät für Physik, 33615 Bielefeld, Deutschland

Electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM) of vitrified biological specimens is a powerful method for the analysis of macromolecular structures. Although theory indicates that atomic resolution should be attainable routinely, resolutions obtained with most ice-embedded specimens are significantly worse. Biomolecules are phase objects and image contrast is degraded by radiation damage, inelastic scattering, electrostatic charging, and specimen movement. Amorphous carbon, used routinely as support film in biological cryoEM, has several disadvantages such as low electrical conductivity at low temperature and mechanical instability below a film thickness of ~ 20 nm. We have tested nanocrystalline graphene as support film for transmission electron microscopy of ice-embedded biological specimens. Nanocrystalline graphene was synthesized by pyrolysis of molecular nanosheets, obtained by cross-linking of self-assembled biphenyl precursors. Due to their transparency, mechanical strength, and conductivity nanocrystalline graphene supports match all requirements for cryoEM of biological specimens.