Electron Microscopy Services
your scanning electron microscope supplier

Unlike optical microscopes, which use visible light to magnify objects, the scanning electron microscope uses a finely focused beam of electrons to probe the surface of a sample. Here are the key elements that make this possible:

● Electric electron gun: Generates and accelerates electrons towards the sample at voltages ranging from a few thousand to several hundred thousand volts.

● Electromagnetic lens system: Focuses the electron beam at a very fine point, which interacts with the surface of the sample under examination.

● Scanning system: moves the electron beam rapidly and in a controlled manner over the sample surface, scanning its various points.

● Detector: captures the signals produced by the interaction between the electron beam and the sample, and transforms them into a high-resolution visible image.

When the electron beam is focused on a point on the sample, it interacts with the atoms in the material to generate different types of signals. These interactions can provide a wide range of information about the topography, chemical composition and crystalline structure of the material under study

Thanks to its unique ability to explore the minutest details of matter, scanning electron microscopy has applications in a wide range of scientific and industrial disciplines. Here are just a few examples of sectors where this technique is widely used:

Life sciences

● Biomedicine: SEM enables the study of cells, tissues and biologically compatible materials at nanometric scales, revealing details inaccessible to conventional optical microscopy techniques.
● Botany: SEM techniques provide a highly accurate view of plant morphology and anatomy, facilitating identification and classification.
● Microbiology: SEM is a key tool for studying the morphology of micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, and their interactions with their environment or with other organisms.

Earth Sciences

● Geology: Scanning electron microscopy enables us to examine the chemical composition and crystalline structure of minerals, as well as the texture and porosity of various types of rock.
● Oceanography: SEM can be used to study plankton and other marine micro-organisms, as well as to analyze particles from ocean sediments.
● Paleontology: This technique can reveal valuable information about the morphology and preservation of fossils, including fine details of the surface of fossilized shells and bones.

Industry

● Materials: SEM is used to analyze or characterize the composition, microstructure and defects of a wide
● Range of materials, from metals and ceramics to polymers and composites.
● Electronics: In semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturing, scanning electron microscopy is used to inspect miniaturized electronic chips and detect any defects that might affect their operation.SEM is often used in combination with an ion beam, known as a FIB (Focused Ion Beam). The FIB is widely used for materials characterization, defect analysis, quality control, circuit editing and reverse engineering.
● Quality control: SEM is used to assess the quality of manufactured products by detecting surface anomalies such as cracks, pitting and inclusions. It is often used in industry to check the physical and mechanical properties of manufactured products. The SEM is therefore used in conjunction with various EDS or EBSD microanalysis systems.

Scanning electron microscopes are expensive pieces of equipment, and their purchase can represent a significant expense for laboratories and companies. However, there is an economically attractive alternative: purchasing a reconditioned electron microscope.
A refurbished electron microscope is a device that has been refurbished by specialists like EMS Microscopy, to guarantee its proper operation and reliability. Here are some of the main benefits associated with this option:

● Savings: Refurbished electron microscopes are generally much less expensive than new models, enabling substantial savings.

● Sustainability: Opting for a refurbished electron microscope helps to reduce the ecological footprint by limiting electronic waste and extending the life of existing equipment.

● Quality: Remanufactured electron microscopes undergo rigorous testing and quality control to ensure they are in perfect working order and meet the OEM manufacturer’s specifications.

● Warranty: Many suppliers of refurbished electron microscopes offer a warranty on their equipment, ensuring peace of mind as to the quality and reliability of the equipment purchased.

Scanning electron microscopy is a powerful and versatile technique for studying matter at nanometric scales. Its many applications cover a wide range of scientific and industrial fields, and the choice of a reconditioned electron microscope can be an economically attractive option for laboratories and companies wishing to benefit from this technology without sacrificing quality and performance.

Choosing the right scanning electron microscope (SEM) supplier is crucial to the success of your research and analysis. Electron Microscopy Services stands out for its comprehensive electron microscopy solutions.

Technical expertise and innovation

EMS combines extensive technical expertise with cutting-edge innovations in scanning electron microscopy. With years of experience, EMS is up-to-date with the latest technological advances. This ensures that every customer benefits from the best instruments available.

Technological advances

Thermofisher instruments supplied by Electron Microscopy Services incorporate the latest technological advances. For example, our SEMs are equipped with sophisticated detectors capable of capturing a wide range of signals, providing high-resolution imaging. This revolutionary technology facilitates not only the visualization of microscopic details, but also their accurate analysis for reliable results.

Maintenance and reliability

An often overlooked but essential aspect of choosing a microscope supplier is maintenance. Electron Microscopy Services is no exception; we understand the importance of keeping your equipment running smoothly.

Efficient after-sales service

Our after-sales service is designed to minimize downtime through :

1. Qualified technicians to diagnose problems quickly
2. Close networking with manufacturers to obtain spare parts quickly
3. The possibility of emergency intervention

This ensures that your electron microscope remains operational even in unexpected situations.

Preventive maintenance contracts

Electron Microscopy Services also offers preventive maintenance contracts, which not only extend the life of your equipment, but also anticipate potential breakdowns before they affect your business. These contracts include :

• Annual maintenance visits
• Detailed checks-up to identify any anomalies
• Depending on your contract, premium support with D-Day response

High-precision imaging capabilities

The imaging capabilities offered by EMS scanning electron microscopes are among the best available on the market. These tools can capture very high-resolution images, essential for a wide range of industrial and scientific applications.

Multispectral imaging

By combining these microscopes with different types of specialized detectors, they enable multispectral imaging. This means that different frequencies of light or radiation can be used to reveal different properties of the samples being studied, making analysis even more comprehensive and detailed.

Microscopy is a fascinating field that enables us to explore worlds invisible to the naked eye. Among the most advanced techniques in this field, two in particular stand out: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Introduction to electron microscopy

Electron microscopy uses electron beams to achieve higher resolution than is possible with visible light. Electrons have a much shorter wavelength than light, enabling fine details to be observed on the samples studied.

What is SEM?

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) provides detailed images of the surface of samples. An electron beam scans the surface of the sample, causing the emission of secondary or backscattered electrons, which are then detected to form an image.

• Main application: Observation of material surfaces.
• Examples: Analysis of biological cells, study of crystals and composite materials.
• Typical resolution: Between 1 nm and 20 nm, depending on magnification.

SEM operating principles

The SEM works by scanning a sample with a focused beam of electrons. As the electrons interact with the surface of the sample, they generate various signals, which the detectors capture to create the images. Here are some of the crucial steps involved in this process:

1. The sample is placed under vacuum in the microscope chamber.
2. An electron gun produces the primary electron beam.
3. The beam is focused by electromagnetic lenses before reaching the sample.
4. Secondary and reflected electrons are collected by appropriate detectors.
5. These signals are amplified and converted into images that can be viewed on a screen.

Advantages and limitations of SEM

SEM offers a number of advantages, not least its ability to produce three-dimensional (3D) images of sample surfaces. However, it also has a number of limitations:

Advantages :

Excellent resolution of surface images.
Ability to analyze a wide variety of materials, including cells and crystals.
Rapid imaging with simplified sample preparation.

Limitations:

Not suitable for studying internal structures.
Some samples need to be prepared to avoid degradation in vacuum.

Introduction to TEM

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) makes it possible to observe internal details of samples with even finer resolution. Unlike SEM, this technique passes electrons through an ultra-thin sample to create the image.

What is a TEM?

TEM involves using a beam of electrons transmitted through a very thin sample. This enables internal structures to be visualized with unrivalled clarity.

• Main application: Observation of the internal structures of materials.
• Examples: Visualization of biological cells, analysis of crystal lattices, studies of nano-structured materials.
• Typical resolution: Less than 0.1 nm, depending on the type of microscope used.

Operating principles of TEM

In TEM, the sample must be extremely thin, often of the order of a few nanometers to a hundred nanometers. Here are the main steps in its operation:

1. The sample is prepared very thin so that the electrons can pass through it.
2. The electron beam passes through the sample.
3. The transmitted electrons are collected by a detector placed behind the sample.
4. This information is processed to generate a high-resolution image of the internal structures.

Advantages and limitations of the MET

Like all methods, the MET offers its own advantages and some limitations:

Advantages :

Ability to achieve atomic resolutions, enabling individual atomic arrangements to be seen.
Enables in-depth study of the internal structure of materials and cells.
Offers chemical and structural analysis options via various complementary techniques.

Limitations :

Complex sample preparation may require expensive equipment.
Difficulty working with thick or inhomogeneous samples.
Vacuum environment required, which may complicate observation of certain types of living biological samples.

Comparison between SEM and TEM

Although SEM and TEM are both electron microscopy techniques, their basic principles and applications differ considerably. Let’s take a closer look at these differences.

Nature of the image produced

SEM mainly produces three-dimensional surface images, whereas TEM provides highly detailed cross-sectional views of the sample interior. This contrast is due to the different interaction mechanisms between the electron beam and the sample.

Resolution and magnification power

Although both techniques offer high resolution compared to traditional optical microscopes, TEM generally has superior resolution, reaching atomic levels. SEM, however, excels in terms of topographical surface analysis with rapid imaging.

Practical applications

SEM: used in materials science to observe surface texture, cracks or defects; in the biological sciences to examine cell morphology. It is used to analyze liquid, solid and biological samples.

TEM: Indispensable for understanding crystal structure and internal imperfections in materials, and for ultrastructural studies in a biological context.