Electron Microscopy Core Adds New Instrumentation!

The EMC has installed new state-of-the-art scanning and transmission electron microscopes following recent successful grant applications by LaPierre Chair Professor in Electrical Engineering, Dr. Shubhra Gangopadhyay and Core Director Dr. Martin Katz. Funding was through the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, respectively.

A FEI Quanta 600F Field-Emission Environmental scanning electron microscope has environmental, or variable-pressure, capability allowing wet, unfixed, uncoated, and even liquid samples to be viewed. The instrument also has a scanning-transmission electron microscopy (STEM) feature, allowing the SEM to be used as a low-voltage transmission electron microscope with thin samples. The new instrument is also equipped with electron-beam lithography and a Thermo Noran EDS X-ray microanalysis system.

Our latest model JEOL 1400 transmission electron microscope with digital imaging and options for remote operation capabilities has been installed and is available for use. Although film image recording remains an option, the microscope has been upgraded for digital imaging with a new 2k x 2k Gatan Model 894 on-axis digital camera, which also allows the user to use a monitor to view samples.

Also, if there is enough interest, researchers will have the option of running the TEM from their own computers in their own offices (requires optional software for each participating client). Core staff would load samples and the researcher can operate the scope and record images as if they were sitting at the TEM console.

The new microscope is equipped with a tomography package, which will automatically make a series of micrographs through a tilt-series. This permits construction of three dimensional models of sample structures, such as cytoskeletal elements in cells, and allows "3D" movies to be created for presentations.

The EM Core will send announcements for open houses and workshops to provide our customers with a chance to try out the new research tools. Go here for images and more details on the new instruments and please contact Core staff at 882-8304 and 882-4777 for more information.