Click here to download the EM Lab fee schedule.

Electron Microscopy Contact:
Dr. Donggao Zhao
(816) 235-2072
zhaodo@umkc.edu

Electron Microscope Laboratory

All our electron microscopes are capable of performing multiple analytical tasks in Imaging and chemical composition.

Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope FEI XL30 ESEM-FEG

The Field-Emission Environmental SEM Philips XL30 is an instrument in which specimens can be examined at conventional high vacuum mode or at relatively high chamber pressure environment.  It combines two main advantages:

  • High resolution/magnification and excellent signal to noise ratio in both regular high vacuum and environmental mode due to field-emission electron source.
  • Real “Wet” mode (100% humidity in the specimen chamber) and the possibility to examine specimens with pressure in the chamber up to 10 Torr.

Almost any specimen of suitable size can be examined in this microscope without destruction and additional specimen preparation procedures, which may lead to various artifacts.

 
Go here  for specifications

Environmental Mode
By utilizing Peltier cooling stage and high water vapor pressure in the specimen chamber (so called “Wet” mode) it is possible to achieve high humidity (up to 100%) inside the chamber. In these conditions wet or hydrated specimens (cells, plant samples, tissue, etc.) will not dry and introduce any artifacts. Dynamic experiments are also possible; for example, drying or crystallization processes can be examined.

Specimen observation at raised chamber pressure without cooling stage (so called “variable pressure” mode) is useful for observing non-conductive dry specimens such as paper, plastics, ceramics, fibers, fabrics, outgassing materials.

The XL30 environmental microscope provides true secondary electron imaging, and so achieves very high resolution and can use low beam intensity. This is very important for beam-sensitive specimens such as biological samples, plastics, textile fibers.

High Vacuum Mode
The main advantage of the XL30 in high vacuum mode is its field-emission electron gun and advanced electron optics. A high resolution/magnification is obtainable at about any high voltage setting.
High vacuum mode can be divided in two sub modes:

  • Low voltage mode – for observing non coated samples. Very low voltage (0.2-1.0 kV) can be used for observation of beam sensitive samples.
  • Regular mode – for observing conductive and coated samples. Since useful resolution is very specimen dependable, this mode usually yields best results at highest magnifications.
TEM/STEM/Scanning Transmission Electron microscope CM12

The CM12 STEM combines the features of both TEM and SEM. It can be used in standard TEM mode for thin samples or in scanning mode for thin or bulk samples. In scanning mode, a high brightness source (LaB6) produces a focused beam with high current density and small diameter for EDS X-ray microanalysis. Spatial resolution for microanalysis (a few nanometers for thin specimens) is much better than it is for microanalysis in SEM for bulk samples (about 0.5-3 microns).  The STEM has a wide range of imaging and analytical capabilities, including a EDS system.

The CM12 STEM is equipped with the large format (11H Megapixel) retractable and fiber-optical coupled CCD camera SC100 ORIUS© CCD camera for digital image acquisition.

High voltage range 20 to 120 kV
Electron gun LaB6
Eucentric goniometer stage ±60°
Camera length 25 to 6500 mm
STEM magnifications 70 to 510,000
Minimum focused probe 2 nm
Image media Scanning mode – digital storage and/or Polaroid film.
TEM mode – photo plates.
Standard, Be (for EDS) and Bulk side-entry specimen holders
Digital EDS Prism detector with IMIX-PC system
Specimen Preparation Equipment

Sputter coaters and carbon coaters

  • The Leica EM SCD050 sputter coater with Gold-Palladium target and carbon thread evaporation accessory and rotating stage. Stepless height adjustable table.
  • Pelco CC7A carbon coater.

Ultramicrotomes

  • Leica EM UC7 ultramicrotome with fully motorized knife stage and AutoTrim function. Brightness-controlled multi-LED illumination and LED spot illumination

Cryogenic specimen preparation

  • High pressure freezer with rapid transfer system Leica EM PACT2 with EM RTS. Freezing of specimens, up to 200 μm in thickness and 1.5 mm in diameter without ice crystal damage
  • Freeze substitution and low temperature embedding unit Leica EM AFS2

Critical point dryer Leica EM CPD030 with integrated automatic cooling/heating
Light microscopes

Fees

For fee structure please click here