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Creators/Authors contains: "Cai, Zizhen"

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  1. Electron beam-induced polymerization (EBIP) has been widely explored in coatings, adhesives, and nanostructure fabrication, relying on electron irradiation to generate reactive species that initiate polymerization via radical pathways [1]. While its efficiency in solid and thin-film systems is well established [2], real-time observation of gas-phase polymerization at the nanoscale remains challenging due to the lack of suitable experimental platforms. In this study, we employ a custom-built ultrathin (UT) membrane gas-cell chip for in-situ closed-cell environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM). This platform offers enhanced reciprocal and spectral visibility, enabling precise tracking of crystallinity through diffraction patterns and gas composition through electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) [3-5]. By allowing real-time observation of polymerization kinetics under controlled electron irradiation, this work aims to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms governing EBIP in the gas phase, addressing a critical knowledge gap in electron beam-driven chemical reactions. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available July 1, 2026
  2. 2D nanomaterials have garnered significant attention due to their unique physicochemical properties. MXene, a type of twodimensional transition metal carbide, nitride, or carbonitride, has become a focal point in materials science due to its excellent metallic conductivity, tunable chemical functional groups, outstanding mechanical properties, and unique surface chemistry [1,2]. Compared to traditional metal oxides, MXenes exhibit superior mechanical strength and flexibility, making them ideal candidates for high-performance energy storage devices (such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors) as well as flexible electronic devices [3]. However, there are still some limitations, such as the self-stacking phenomenon, which restricts the improvement of its performance. Researchers have gradually expanded various types of MXene structures, enhancing their value in fields such as energy, electronics, sensing, nanofluids, computing, and the environment by tuning the element composition, surface functional groups, interlayer structure, and composite structure design [4,5]. 
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    Free, publicly-accessible full text available July 1, 2026