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Capabilities

Electron Microscope: Transmission, Environmental

Quick specs

  • Electron beam energy: 80 to 300 keV
  • Sample operating pressure: 10-7 to 20 mbar
  • Sample operating temperature: Up to 1000°C
  • Gases allowed: N2, Ar, O2, H2O, CO, and CO2
  • Gas composition controlled with flow controller and monitored using mass spectrometer
  • S/TEM-HAADF point-to-point resolution at 300 kV: < 0.14 nm
  • HRTEM phase contrast resolution (information limit at 300 kV): < 0.1 nm
  • High-tilt crystallographic and tomographic analysis
  • Si(Li) X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (XEDS)
  • Cryogenic imaging capability
  • Sample tilt range: -70°–+70°
  • CCD camera: 2k x 2k
  • Exit wave function reconstruction from defocus series

EMSL's Titan environmental transmission electron microscope (ETEM) is a state-of-the-art, Cs-corrected field emission gun (FEG) scanning transmission electron microscope equipped with an Environmental Cell infrastructure for controlled gas inlet into the sample/holder area and analysis of the chemical composition of the atmosphere in this area. The ETEM will allow researchers to perform microscopic and spectroscopic in situ measurements relevant to catalytic and geochemical studies important to energy and environmental applications and is expected to answer important questions about the interfacial and defect control of catalytic reactions and the chemical nature of nanoparticles.

Photo of EMSL's Titan environmental transmission electron microscope (ETEM)An EMSL scientist using the environmental transmission electron microscope housed in EMSL's Quiet Wing.

The ETEM enables imaging of the sample in a controlled gaseous environment, permitting researchers to investigate the fundamental atomic mechanisms of gas–solid reactions. The Environmental Cell is equipped with in situ vacuum system and controlled gas-inlet system for introducing up to four gases into the probe. The setup allows for accurate control of the gas stream(s) and for fine-tuning the composition of the mixture that flows into the probe. A mass spectrometer is included for monitoring the composition of outlet gases. Titan ETEM's special vacuum system enables imaging of a sample under gas pressures up to 20 mbar while maintaining a workable high vacuum in the rest of the TEM column and FEG. As the Environmental Cell is flooded with gas, the sample can be heated up to, at least, 1000°C. A built-in plasma cleaner offers efficient cleaning of the column, affording fast and reliable switching between ETEM and high-vacuum operation modes.

 

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Kabius,Bernd C | , 509-371-6516
Kovarik,Libor | , 509-375-4377