A sub-sampled approach to extremely low-dose STEM

Abstract

The inpainting of deliberately and randomly sub-sampled images offers a potential means to image specimens at a high resolution and under extremely low-dose conditions (≤1 e−/Å2) using a scanning transmission electron microscope. We show that deliberate sub-sampling acquires images at least an order of magnitude faster than conventional low-dose methods for an equivalent electron dose. More importantly, when adaptive sub-sampling is implemented to acquire the images, there is a significant increase in the resolution and sensitivity which accompanies the increase in imaging speed. We demonstrate the potential of this method for beam sensitive materials and in-situ observations by experimentally imaging the node distribution in a metal-organic framework.