A research team at Seoul National University, led by Professor Jungwon Park, has pioneered a novel technique for observing atomic structural changes in nanoparticles in three dimensions. Published in Nature Communications, this study focuses on the importance of nanoparticles in various industries and the challenges in current methods of analyzing nanostructures. The team developed liquid transmission electron microscopy (liquid TEM), allowing for the real-time monitoring of atomic structural changes in individual nanoparticles. By observing freely moving nanoparticles in solution using the 'graphene liquid cell transmission electron microscopy,' researchers reconstructed images into three-dimensional models, surpassing traditional methods. The study revealed unexpected structural changes in platinum nanoparticles during etching, shedding light on the distinct characteristics of nanomaterials. This breakthrough offers a more accurate understanding of nanomaterial functionality, with applications in catalyst development for hydrogen energy and other advanced materials. Sungsu Kang, the lead author, emphasized the significance of directly capturing real-time atomic-level structural changes in nanocrystals within liquid environments, highlighting the method's ability to visualize surface atomic movements and unique phases in nanomaterials phenomena. The study, funded by the National Hydrogen Priority Research Center project, holds promise for unraveling complex reaction mechanisms in hydrogen fuel cells, CO2 conversion catalysts, lithium-ion batteries, and advanced energy materials, contributing to the design of superior materials.