How Does TEM Work?
In TEM, an electron gun generates a beam of electrons that travels through electromagnetic lenses to focus on the sample. The electrons interact with the sample, and the transmitted electrons are collected to form an image. The image can be magnified and analyzed using a detector system.
High
resolution enabling observation of atomic structures.
Ability to
analyze both the composition and crystallography of materials.
Versatile imaging modes like bright-field, dark-field, and
electron diffraction.
Samples must be extremely thin, often less than 100 nm.
Preparation of samples can be complex and time-consuming.
The technique requires high vacuum conditions.
Expensive equipment and maintenance costs.
Material Science: Studying the structure and properties of nanomaterials.
Biology: Observing viruses, cellular structures, and biomolecules at the nanoscale.
Semiconductor Industry: Analyzing the internal structure of semiconductor devices.
Nanomedicine: Characterizing nanoparticles for drug delivery systems.
Sectioning: Cutting thin slices of the sample using techniques like ultramicrotomy.
Deposition: Placing a thin layer of the sample onto a support grid.
Staining: Applying contrast agents to enhance image quality.
