Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM)

Field-Emission Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM-FEG) with Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)

Esem A versatile microscope with 2 nm ultimate resolution. Works well in both Hi-Vac mode (normal SEM) and Wet mode (as an ESEM). In Wet mode, the Peltier stage may be utilized to keep samples at 100% R.H. while they are being imaged.

ITG users may reserve time on the ESEM using the ESEM calendar.

Sample Images Acquired from the ESEM.

Manufacturer:	FEI Company
Equipment Model:	Philips XL30 ESEM-FEG
Features:	- Everhart-Thornley secondary electron detector - Robinson series 6 scintillator-type backscattered electron detector (BSD), plus solid-state low- and standard voltage BSDs - Several different gaseous secondary electron detectors (GSEDs), from the LF (large-field) detector to the 0.5-mm-aperture detector - EDAX light-element energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) - Peltier-effect heating/cooling stage (20 C degrees above/below ambient). - 1000 C and 1500 C hotstages.
Location:	B606L
Contact Person:	Cate Wallace Scott J. Robinson
Contact Information:	Microscopy Suite Staff: Cate Wallace (217) 333-5493 Scott Robinson (217) 265-5071
Fees & Consumables:	See Microscopy Suite Fees
User Resources :	How ESEM Works General Information and Operating Procedures SEM Fixation Protocol
Related Equipment:	- carbon evaporator - sputter coater - critical point dryer - osmium plasma coater
Related Forums:	Microscopic studies of Equine Osteoarthritis. Pseudo-color Stereograms from the ESEM. Microstructure and Stress Evolution during Drying of Binary Colloidal Systems. New Technology for the ESEM-FEG in the Beckman Microscopy Suite. Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy Using the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope. An Interactive Remote Microscopy Application for WWW-Based Control of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). ESEM: An Introduction and Discussion to the Technology and its Applications.
Related Technical Reports:	Bugscope: The Second Year of a Sustainable Remote Microscope Project for K-12 Education Outreach. Bugscope: Sustainable Internet Access to a ESEM for the K-12 Classroom. Nondestructive Imaging of Pin-Mounted Museum Specimens of Insects Using the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). irma: An Interactive Remote Microscopy Application for WWW-Based Control of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM).
File Format:	Image files can be exported in TIFF format (.tif). The native option is .img, which is proprietary and can only be read by the ESEM software. Standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) settings may be used to store digital images. The SD pixel format is 702 x 484; it uses 373 kB of disc space in .img and 350 kB in .tif. The HD pixel format is 1404 x 968, and it uses 1.49 MB of disc space in .img and 1.38 MB in .tif format.
Sponsors:	National Science Foundation DBI-9871103