Microanalysis and Microscopy: Capabilities

Scanning Electron Microscopy – Environmental Chamber

The environmental SEM is much like the high-resolution SEM, except that it has a special sample chamber that can tolerate wet or damp samples and is especially suited for imaging organic materials. Structures and particles can be measured digitally, and digital images can be produced. This SEM also has an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer for identification of sample elemental composition. Sample size can range from micrometer-sized particles mounted on a smooth substrate to samples several centimeters in size. The environmental SEM is capable of magnifying an image in excess of 20,000 times, can resolve particles and structures smaller than 100 nanometers, and is ideal for looking at samples that interfere with the vacuum system of the high resolution SEM due to outgassing or organic composition.

Contact: Owen Crankshaw