A new low-damage imaging technique developed at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) is opening the door to detailed analysis of fragile nanomaterials for the first time.
Data-driven lattice correlation analysis. Workflow of lattice-correlation analysis: (a) HRTEM image showing dark contrast metatitanic acid nanoparticles. (b) Detected particles color-coded by image processing. (c) Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the particle marked in (b). (d) Lattice correlation map with (004)/(110) and (002)/(110) spots. (e) Proposed crystal model. (f) Simulated annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of the model. (g) Annular dark field STEM of metatitanic acid nanoparticles. Image Credit: Yoshifumi Oshima from JAIST.
A new low-damage imaging technique developed at the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) is opening the door to detailed analysis of fragile nanomaterials for the first time.
Nanomaterials are becoming essential to modern technology—powering batteries, enhancing clean energy systems, and enabling more efficient catalysts. Their unique advantages often stem from the precise arrangement of atoms within them. Yet, despite their critical role, the smallest building blocks of these materials have often remained elusive, largely because traditional imaging techniques rely on strong electron beams that can damage these delicate structures.
To overcome this challenge, researchers at JAIST combined high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with data-driven lattice correlation analysis, successfully mapping the three-dimensional atomic structure of titanium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles—a class of materials valued for their roles in energy devices and advanced catalysts.
The study, led by Professor Yoshifumi Oshima along with Senior Lecturer Kohei Aso, Senior Technical Specialist Koichi Higashimine, Former Senior Lecturer Masanobu Miyata, and Dr. Hiroshi Kamio from Nippon Steel, was published in Communications Chemistry on April 28th, 2025.
One of the standout features of this new technique is how effectively it protects fragile nanomaterials during imaging. Traditional electron microscopy often damages sensitive samples, such as titanium oxyhydroxides, before they can be properly analyzed.
By reducing electron exposure by 20 to 500 times compared to conventional methods, the JAIST team achieved high-resolution imaging without the risk of beam-induced damage.
Controlling the crystal structures of metal oxyhydroxides is the key for their applications, but this is often limited by the difficulties of analyzing these beam-sensitive nanomaterials. But our method enables a safer approach for structural analysis, allowing researchers to understand and control their properties effectively.
Kohei Aso, Senior Lecturer, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Using this technique, the team made an important discovery about metatitanic acid (H2TiO3), a titanium-based material widely used in catalytic and energy applications.
Their analysis revealed that metatitanic acid features an alternating layered structure composed of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanium hydroxide (Ti(OH)4)—a structure strikingly similar to anatase, a naturally occurring form of titanium dioxide known for its unique optical and electronic properties.
The striking structural resemblance between metatitanic acid and anatase vividly explains why metatitanic acid is a widely favored precursor for the synthesis of the anatase phase of TiO2.
Kohei Aso, Senior Lecturer, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
This discovery could pave the way for designing materials with improved performance, whether it’s enhancing chemical reactions in catalysts or boosting efficiency in batteries and sensors.
While the team’s work focuses on titanium oxyhydroxide, the implications go much further. Many advanced nanomaterials used in today’s cutting-edge technologies are just as vulnerable to electron beam damage. The method developed at JAIST could be a game-changer for analyzing and improving a wide range of materials crucial for clean energy, electronics, and sustainable technologies.
Beyond experimental advancements, the research highlights the growing synergy between experimental and computational approaches in materials science.
Looking ahead, the team envisions their lattice correlation analysis becoming a key tool for data-driven materials design, helping to accelerate the development of next-generation, high-performance devices.
Journal Reference:
Aso, K., et al. (2025) Three-dimensional atomic-scale characterization of titanium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles by data-driven lattice correlation analysis. Communications Chemistry. doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01513-2.