Equipment

Microscope Ability

• Resolution: Point-to-point resolution 0.23nm
• Accelerating voltage: 20 kV – 120 kV

Magnifications:

ZOOM

• HC mode
  • × 700 to × 200,000 (30 steps)
• HR mode
  • × 4,000 to × 600,000 (20 steps)
• Low MAG
  • × 50 to 1,000 (10 steps)

• Specimen stage: Maximum specimen tilt 20°
• PGT Prism 2000 Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (C-U)
  • Spectral point acquisition
  • X-ray line scans
  • X-ray Mapping
• AMT side mount Slow Scan CCD (1024 x 1024)
  • Wide field-of-view for image interpretation
  • Real time background correction

Microscope Ability

• Resolution
  • Secondary electron image (SEI)
    • 3.0 nm resolution in high vacuum mode at 30 kV
    • 10 nm resolution in high vacuum mode at 3 kV
  • Backscattered electron image (BSI)
    • 4.0 nm resolution in low vacuum mode at 30 kV
• Electron source: Pre-centered cartridge type tungsten hairpin filament
• Accelerating voltage: 0.3kV to 30 kV
• Unique VP-mode of operation
  • The VP-mode allows microscopy can operate analysis at pressure settings ranging from 6 Pa through 270 Pa in the sample chamber. Wet, oily and non-conductive samples in their natural state without charge-up and without the need of conventional sample preparation.
• Bruker –AXS Xflash X-Ray Detector A silicon drift detector (SDD)
  • Processing of up to 1,000,000 signals per
  • Maintenance-free and vibration free detector and
  • No need for liquid nitrogen
  • Qualitative and Quantitative elemental analysis
  • X-ray line scans
  • X-ray Mapping
  • Quad-Type semiconductor backscattered electron detector providing information of composition and topography of sample surface. Useable at both high and low vacuum mode.

Imaging Modes and Capabilities

ScanAsyst

automatic image optimization mode

Contact Mode AFM

Tapping Mode AFM

PeakForce Tapping

Electric and magnetic measurement

Mechanical properties analysis

Piezo Response (PFM)

an electrical AFM technique for imaging the response of a piezoelectric material

AFM in Fluid

Conductive AFM (C-AFM)

a current measuring technique for mapping variations in electrical conductivity of materials.

Force Modulation

a technique for imaging local sample stiffness and elasticity by oscillating a cantilever with the probe tip in constant contact with the sample

Electrochemical (EC) Contact Mode

enables in-situ real-time imaging of the electrode surface under electrochemical control

PeakForce

QNM

nanoscale quantitative nanomechanical mapping including modulus, adhesion, and topography

PeakForce TUNA

quantitatively characterize nanoscale materials. It simultaneously maps sample conductivity, nanomechanical properties, and sample topography at high resolution

Sample Heating

temperature-gradient (20°C to 200°C) studies with greatest precision

Microscope Ability

• High efficiency galvano scanner operating at rates of up to 100 fps
• Enable simultaneous acquisition of three fluorescent channels
• Enable high-speed acquisition of four spectral profile sequentially
• Fully controlled by NIS-Elements C imaging software
• simultaneous three channels imaging
• Sequential imaging up to five channels
• High resolution epi-fluorescence imaging up to
  2048 x 2048 pixel y using CMOS camera

Objectives

• Nikon Plan Apo 10x NA 0.45
• Nikon Plan Apo 20x NA 0.75
• Nikon Plan Fluor 40x NA 0.75
• Nikon Plan Fluor 20X  NA 0.75, Oil immersion
• Nikon S Fluro 40x NA 1.30, Oil immersion
• Nikon Apo λ (Lambda) 60x NA 1.40, Oil immersion
• Nikon Plan Apo 100x NA 1.45, Oil immersion

Features

• pc part: >= 5 mm
• Wafers or SEM stub: 50 mm to 100 mm round

Specifications/Capabilities:

• Chamber: 6″ OD x 6″ H Cylindrical metal chamber
• Au or Au/Pd target
• Argon gas
• Etch mode for cleaning of samples prior metal deposition
• Manual or automatic timed sputter/etch
• Carbon evaporation

Typical Applications:

• Coating a thin layer of metal or carbon film to remove SEM charge effects from non-conductive samples

DV-502A is a high vacuum evaporator for fine carbon (for X-ray microanalysis) or metal evaporation of scanning and transmission electron microscopy samples. Using Denton’s economical diffusion pump design, it can rapidly and repeatedly cycle from atmosphere to high vacuum.

Carbon coatings can be evaporated onto grids as a support layer or as an additional stabilizing agent for polymer coated grids. Grids that will be used for imaging isolated macromolecules (such as proteins) can be glow discharged to decrease their hydrophobicity.

The Denton critical point drying apparatus is mounted on a sturdy stand with a weighted base which sits conveniently on the laboratory bench. It is being used to critical point of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) to dry biological material with a graded series of ethanol. The chamber is 1-1/8” dia. × 2-5/8” high and will hold a large number of grids or a half dozen SEM stubs. A removable stainless steel wire basket 1” dia. × 2-1/2” long is also supplied.

Reichert/Leica 2030 Microtome is designed for most routine histology and biology needs.  High precision and stability ensures reproducible section quality in wax and plastic embedded sections. It has a smooth handwheel movement that allows controllable sectioning speed with zero backlash. Vertical roller veering sideway prevents any deviation of specimen cylinder during sectioning. A section counter and the automatic specimen feed is 1 to 60 um. Three Reichert microtomes are available in our EM facilities.

Leica Reichert ultratrim is an EM specimen trimmer built-in high speed milling device. The ultratrim consists of stereo microscope with 20x total magnification, illuminator 20W reflector halogen light, specimen carrier and trimming tool. Trimming is carried out during observation of the specimen with the microscope, using a special milling tool which is moved past the specimen. The specimen can be centered ± 2 mm and rotated about 90°C click stop mechanism for milling the pyramid faces. The selected detail remains in the center of the field during each operation.

The Leica EM UC7 offers advanced ultramicrotome technology and features a touch screen control panel. It provides easy preparation of semi- and ultrathin sections as well as perfect, smooth surfaces of biological and industrial samples for TEM, SEM, AFM and LM examination. Three independent, built-in, brightness-controlled LED light sources and the additional LED spotlights provide outstanding illumination. The innovative touch-sensitive control unit of the Leica EM UC7 enables fast and safe alignment of knife and specimen with help files and prompts to hand for beginners. Programmable knife and cutting movements make trimming easy.

EM tissue processor provides a compact system for automatically processing biological specimens for high resolution light microscope examination.

Thermo Scientific HistoStar Embedding Workstation consists basically of a control panel, paraffin storage reservoir and dispenser, embedding module with hot and cold spots for orientation, warm tissue storage drawer, mold storage, cold plate, and a waste drawer for collecting excess paraffin from the working platform. The HistoStar embedding workstation is the only workstation with a heated wax trimmer built directly into the workspace. It is the well-illuminated, ergonomic, efficient workstation.