Electron Microscopy

The in situ electron microscopy package comprises two dedicated TEM holders, a fast camera designed for in situ experiments and a holder storage unit. The suite includes:

1) A Protochips Poseidon continuous flow liquid cell in situ holder with additional electrochemical cell. This holder can be used to image samples during continuous flow experiments or during electrochemical reactions.

2) A Gatan double tilt vacuum transfer holder Model 648 that enables air-sensitive samples to be transferred to the electron microscope without the sample being exposed to the atmosphere.

3) A Gatan OneView Camera Model that enables TEM images to be acquired at high frame rates (up to 300 fps) making it ideal for in situ studies. It is possible to keep a rolling capture up to 20s in length to avoid missed reaction events.

4) A Gatan turbo pumping station Model 655 designed for storing the TEM holders under vacuum when not being used.

This equipment can be used with many of the TEM and SEM microscopes available within the Wolfson Electron Microscopy Suite (WEMS). Access to these microscopes can be provided through WEMS on request.

There is also available a Zeiss Cross-beam 540 focused ion beam/electron beam system (FIB-SEM) for in-situ characterisation, patterning and device fabrication, hosted by Royce.

If your research interests require in situ electron microscopy, you would like to use the vacuum transfer holder or liquid cell holder, and/or use the OneView Camera, have any questions regarding in situ TEM capabilities or would like to discuss your experimental needs, please contact the Facility Manager Dr John Walmsley (jcw80@cam.ac.uk) or the Academic Lead Professor Cate Ducati (cd251@cam.ac.uk) in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy.