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1. Cryo-EXLO for Cryo-TEM of FIB Specimens

   https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927622005153  

   Giannuzzi, Lucille A; Colletta, Michael; Yu, Yue; Kourkoutis, Lena F; Iams, Andrew D; Beggs, Kyle; Kassab, Alain J (August 2022, Microscopy and Microanalysis)
2. Cryo-EXLO Manipulation of FIB Specimens for Cryo-TEM

   https://doi.org/10.1093/micmic/ozac029  

   Giannuzzi, Lucille A; Colletta, Michael; Yu, Yue; Kourkoutis, Lena F; Iams, Andrew D; Beggs, Kyle; Kassab, Alain J (January 2023, Microscopy and Microanalysis)

   Abstract This work describes cryogenic ex situ lift out (cryo-EXLO) of cryogenic focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) thinned specimens for analysis by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). The steps and apparatus necessary for cryo-EXLO are described. Methods designed to limit ice contamination include use of an anti-frost lid, a vacuum transfer assembly, and a cryostat. Cryo-EXLO is performed in a cryostat with the cryo-shuttle holder positioned in the cryogenic vapor phase above the surface of liquid N2 (LN2) using an EXLO manipulation station installed inside a glove box maintained at < 10% relative humidity and inert (e.g., N2 gas) conditions. Thermal modeling shows that a cryo-EXLO specimen will remain vitreous within its FIB trench indefinitely while LN2 is continuously supplied. Once the LN2 is cut off, modeling shows that the EXLO specimen will remain vitreous for over 4 min, allowing sufficient time for the cryo-transfer steps which take only seconds to perform. Cryo-EXLO was applied successfully to cryo-FIB-milled specimen preparation of a polymer sample and plunge-frozen yeast cells. Cryo-TEM of both the polymer and the yeast shows minimal ice contamination with the yeast specimen maintaining its vitreous phase, illustrating the potential of cryo-EXLO for cryo-FIB-TEM of beam-sensitive, liquid, or biological materials. 

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3. Ice matrix composites for Cryo-ultrasonic testing

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2024.103215  

   Wells, Kaden C; Simonetti, Francesco; Peco, Christian; Argüelles, Andrea P (October 2024, NDT & E International)

   Cryo-ultrasonic testing utilizes polycrystalline ice coupling to enable the inspection of metallic components with complex shape. The relatively high velocity of compressional waves in ice (approximately 4000 m s−1) and its ability to support the propagation of shear waves, significantly strengthen the ultrasonic transmission through curved interfaces over conventional water coupling. This paper explores the possibility of further enhancing the ultrasonic properties of ice by dispersing solid particles in water before it is frozen. Complex physicochemical phenomena occur when aqueous dispersions freeze which can lead to a solid material with microstructural characteristics that may be unfavorable to the propagation of ultrasonic waves. Here, these effects are controlled to produce a composite material consisting of alumina nanoparticles in an ice matrix. The composite exhibits compressional and shear wave velocities of approximately 4800 m s−1 and 2700 m s−1 , respectively. Importantly, the mass density of the material is more than twice as large as the density of water. Finally, it is shown that a phenomenon similar to a glass transition occurs during freezing which results in low ultrasonic attenuation when the temperature approaches – 100 °C. 

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4. Deep Active Learning for Cryo-Electron Tomography Classification

   https://doi.org/10.1109/ICIP46576.2022.9898002  

   Wang, Tianyang; Li, Bo; Zhang, Jing; Zeng, Xiangrui; Uddin, Mostofa Rafid; Wu, Wei; Xu, Min (October 2022, 2021 IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP))
5. Cryo STEM of Low Melting Point Metals Enabled by Cryo FIB and EXLO

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozae044.985  

   Colletta, Michael; Ford, Jamie; Michael, Joseph R; Giannuzzi, Lucille A; Muller, David A (July 2024, Microscopy and Microanalysis)