Day 13 - Physical Sciences Electron Microscopy (ePSIC)

It's day 13 of the Diamond Industrial Liaison advent calendar. We've already taken a glimpse into electron microscopy for biological sciences on day  9, but today we are going to focus on electron microscopy for physical sciences.

The Physical Sciences Electron Microscopy Facility (PSEMF) located on the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire is the result of a collaboration between Johnson Matthey, Oxford University and Diamond Light Source.

As part of Diamond’s pioneering hard X-ray nanoprobe beamline (I14) and electron microscopy centre, Johnson Matthey and Oxford University have contributed cutting-edge microscopes from JEOL to support research in the Physical Sciences. These microscopes will complement two other advanced electron microscopes that will be part of the new centre as part of a National Facility for Cryo-Electron Microscopy (eBIC) for biological sciences.

Oxford University have contributed a unique JEOL 300kV electron microscope dedicated to atomic scale imaging at world-leading resolution and Johnson Matthey have installed a world-leading JEOL double-EDX and EELS capable microscope dedicated to chemical analysis with atomic scale resolution. 

The 2 electron microscopes that are available at the facility, through EDX, EELS, atomic scale imaging and electron diffraction, show the identity, ordering and chemical state of atoms in the sample. The potential of today’s advanced materials depends upon the structures and properties that arise from collections of atoms interacting in their local environment. In automotive emissions control catalysts, fuel cells, chemical process technology and battery materials the collections of atoms are the catalytically active sites and characterising those leads to better understanding and their improved design.

At greater length scales, framework materials such as graphene, zeolites or complex ceramics provide controlled transmission of active effects from clusters of atoms to greater length scale properties. The expertise and equipment that the 3 organisations involved (Johnson Matthey, Oxford and Diamond) bring together will provide the nucleus for the community to come together and address important future challenges.

The JEOL ARM200CF is an Atomic Resolution Analytical Electron Microscope, with a STEM Cs corrector providing a STEM-HAADF resolution of 78 pm and full analytical capabilities using EDX and EELS. The Cs corrected electron probe has an increased current density, one order larger than conventional FE TEMs enabling elemental analysis at the atomic-level.

The JEOL ARM200CF provides simultaneous STEM-ABF imaging for visualising light elements together with STEM-HAADF imaging.

Elemental EDX analysis and elemental mapping at atomic resolution is provided using twin JEOL Centurio wide area (100 mm2) Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) for high-speed and high-sensitivity detection.

The narrow energy spread that is characteristic of the cold FEG enables high energy resolution EELS analysis and fast EELS mapping with dual EELS capability.

Applications

• High Resolution Imaging and Spectroscopy;
• Atomic-Resolution Elemental Mapping by EELS and XEDS;
• Studies of catalysts and other nanoparticulate systems.

The JEOL ARM300CF is an Atomic Resolution Electron Microscope, with both STEM and TEM Cs correctors providing a STEM-HAADF resolution of 47 pm and a TEM resolution of 50pm.

It is optimised for imaging over arrange of accelerating voltages from 60 – 300kV and is fitted with a range of detectors for different imaging modes. Heating a cooling specimen holders are available.

The JEOLARM300CF provides simultaneous STEM-ABF imaging for visualising light elements together with STEM-HAADF imaging using one of several detectors together with TEM imaging using either a direct electron detector or a fast coupled CMOS camera.

Applications

• Ultra High Resolution TEM and STEM Imaging in several modes over a range of voltages;
• Studies of catalysts and other nanoparticulate systems;
• Low dimensional materials. 

We offer services ranging from full service; a bespoke experimental design, data collection, data analysis and reporting service through to providing facilities for you to conduct your own experiments. We’re always happy to discuss any enquiries or talk about ways in which access to Diamond’s facilities may be beneficial to your business so please do give us a call on 01235 778797 or send us an e-mail.  You can keep in touch with the latest development by following us on Twitter @DiamondILO or LinkedIn