Speaker
Description
The study of dynamic processes in porous and confined media, such as phase transitions, interfacial transport, and crystal growt, under extreme environmental conditions (e.g., high pressure, low temperature, corrosive fluids) remains a formidable experimental challenge. While advanced imaging techniques including X-ray computed tomography and laser scanning microscopy have greatly enhanced our spatial and chemical mapping capabilities, they often lack the temporal resolution, optical access, or environmental compatibility required for in situ, real-time monitoring of rapid phenomena. To bridge this gap, we present a novel imaging platform that integrates a high-pressure optical cell (HPOC) with a quantitative phase camera (Q-camera) based on orthogonal polarization multiplexing shearing interferometry (OPSI). This system enables label-free, non-invasive, and real-time 3D quantitative phase imaging under precisely controlled extreme conditions, offering continuous spatial and temporal resolution of transparent and weakly scattering samples.
The core innovation lies in the Q-camera and HPOC, which can be directly coupled to a conventional optical microscope without altering its native imaging functions. By capturing full-field optical phase shifts induced by the sample, the system reconstructs quantitative maps of refractive index distribution and physical thickness with sub-micrometer spatial and millisecond-scale temporal resolution. Unlike fluorescence-based methods or electron microscopy, no staining, labeling, or vacuum conditions are required, making it uniquely suitable for studying dynamic fluid-solid interactions in situ. The integrated HPOC allows operation across a wide range of temperatures (e.g., −20°C to 150°C) and pressures (up to ~500 MPa), thereby replicating conditions relevant to geological, energy, and chemical engineering applications.
We demonstrate the capability of this platform by investigating crystal growth dynamics from solution under high-pressure, low-temperature environments—conditions typical of gas hydrate formation but equally applicable to mineral precipitation, ice crystallization, or pharmaceutical polymorph growth. The system simultaneously tracks evolving crystal morphology, interfacial propagation, and surrounding solute concentration fields in 4D (3D + time). Quantitative phase data are converted into metrics such as growth rate, local supersaturation, and diffusional flux, providing insights into kinetics and transport limitations without physical intrusion.
Beyond crystallization studies, this imaging approach holds broad applicability in porous media research. It can visualize multiphase flow, solute dispersion, biofilm development, and precipitation/dissolution cycles in micromodels, beads, or natural rock analogs under reservoir-relevant conditions. The method’s high phase sensitivity also enables detection of minute refractive index variations associated with chemical reactions or thermal gradients, offering a complementary tool to spectroscopic or tomographic techniques.
In summary, the OPSI-based Q-camera+HPOC platform represents a significant advance in real-time, non-destructive imaging for extreme-condition science. By delivering continuous 3D quantitative phase data under high-pressure and low-temperature regimes, it overcomes key limitations of existing imaging modalities and opens new avenues for investigating dynamic processes in porous materials, geo-energy systems, and chemical engineering applications. We invite discussion on its integration with other analytical methods and potential for standardization in operando imaging workflows.
| Country | China |
|---|---|
| Green Housing & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Green Housing |
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