ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

You've been brewing espresso the wrong way this whole time, mathematicians say

Gravitational waves have scientists searching for answers

Home → Science

Scientists record video of atoms forming chemical bonds in real time

It's the first time that footage of atoms bonding and separating has been recorded.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
January 22, 2020
in Chemistry, News, Science
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to both image and energize a bunch of atoms, scientists have for the very first time recorded footage of atoms forming and breaking bonds in real time.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time when bond evolution, breaking and formation was recorded on film at the atomic scale,” said Andrei Khlobystov, professor at the University of Nottingham and one of the lead authors of the new study.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=byEqhd5Bpr4&feature=emb_title

TEM resembles traditional film photography, in the sense that it blasts a beam of electrons onto a very thin sample to produce images of such a high resolution that individual atoms can be discerned.

Chemical bonding takes place a microscopic scale of about half a million times smaller than the width of a human hair.

Imaging the ultra-fast processes that occur in such a tiny world was a huge challenge but the international team of researchers rose to the occasion.

The researchers, which included scientists from the University of Nottingham and the SALVE Project at the University of Ulm, introduced pairs of rhenium atoms into a nano-test tube made of single-walled carbon nanotubes. An individual rhenium atom is just 205 picometers across, or 205 trillionths of a meter, whereas a carbon nanotube’s diameter ranges from one nanometer to a few nanometers.

The rhenium atoms bonded right to the side of the carbon nanotubes, forming a quadruple bond between them — and this confinement proved critical for focusing and recording footage of the atomic bonding. Writing in the journal Science Advances, the authors explain that the curvature of the nanotubes influences the bonding modes available to the rhenium atoms to form rhenium molecules.

“It was surprisingly clear how the two atoms move in pairs, clearly indicating a bond between them,” said Kecheng Cao, an author of the study. “Importantly, as Re2 moves down the nanotube, the bond length changes, indicating that the bond becomes stronger or weaker depending on the environment around the atoms.”

Eventually, the researchers managed to record videos of the atoms forming pure metal-metal bonds in real-time. What’s more, the microscope’s electron beam not only recorded the experiment but also facilitated it by adding electron energy.

In the video, the atom pairs (black dots) travel along the narrow gap between the carbon nanotubes. When the length of the bond exceeded the size of the atoms, the bond broke. After traveling independently for a while, the two atoms reformed once more into a molecule because this more stable configuration lowers their energy.

The findings are exciting not just because they signify an unprecedented achievement, but also because they add to our knowledge of metallic bonds, which are still quite mysterious. Metallic bonds are notoriously difficult to study because other atoms and molecules are drawn to interact with them, distorting bond length and other factors that scientists would like to measure.

Tags: molecules
ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Recent news

The Worm That Outsourced Locomotion to Its (Many) Butts

May 16, 2025

The unusual world of Roman Collegia — or how to start a company in Ancient Rome

May 16, 2025
Merton College, University of Oxford. Located in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. Original public domain image from Wikimedia Commons

For over 500 years, Oxford graduates pledged to hate Henry Symeonis. So, who is he?

May 16, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.