Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR)
$99 Base price View My Quote RequestScanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM)
Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is a hybrid electron microscopy technique used for imaging and morphological characterization with atomic-scale resolution. STEM is available on both Covalent’s FIB-SEM instruments, as well as our TEM.
All Covalent’s (S)TEM systems are additionally equipped with fully integrated energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometers (EDS or EDX) to allow correlative elemental composition and mapping analysis.
NOTE: All S/TEM prices include the cost of sample prep.
Strengths
- Atomic-level resolution limit – substantially improved over conventional SEM
- Enables spatial correlation of advanced TEM signals: EDS, EELS, Annular BF and DF scattered beams
Limitations
- Requires extensive sample preparation to generate a thin-enough analytical window for the material to be electron-transmissive
- High-energy, highly-focused electron beam can cause sample damage
Technical Specifications:
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Base Prices
Technique Variants
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Example Outputs
High angle annular dark-field (HAADF) TEM image captured at an ROI for joint analysis with EDS.
(S)TEM Bright-Field image of an interface between two layers, captured at 900kx magnification.
Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) map of element distribution across the interface imaged above. This image is a composite overlay of the measured signal intensities of 9 different elements.
In addition to EDS maps, one can extract 2D line-scans of element concentration (in atomic %) across interfaces or boundaries between phase domains. These line scans were taken from across the same interface pictured previously. Top plot shows the measured intensities of all detected elements; bottom shows the interfacial diffusion of a selected 3 trace species.
Instruments Used for STEM
Thermo Scientific Talos F200X (S)TEM
- STEM Resolution Limit: 0.16 nm
(in High-Angle Annular Dark Field – HAADF – mode) - STEM Detectors:
- HAADF
- On-Axis Bright Field
- On-Axis Dark Field
- Maximum Alpha Tilt: ± 90°
(with tomography holder) - Maximum Diffraction Angle: 24°
- Electron Source: High-Brightness Field Emission Gun
- Maximum Horizontal Field Width: 2.3 mm at 4 mm WD
- Electron Beam:
- Resolution Limit: 0.7 nm at 1 kV
- Current Range: 0.8 pA to 100 nA
- Accelerating Voltage Range: 350 V to 30 kV
- Ion Beam:
- Electron Beam:
- Resolution Limit: 4.0 nm at 30 kV using preferred statistical method
- Current Range: 1 pA to 100 nA
- Accelerating Voltage Range: 500 V to 30kV
Thermo Scientific Scios DualBeam
Optimized to achieve best performance across a wide array of sample types.
- Powerful charge neutralization
- Enables analysis on magnetic samples
- Able to operate above vacuum pressure
How STEM Works
Like SEM systems, STEM instruments use a narrow, focused electron beam spot to probe the sample, scanning it in a raster pattern over an analytical area of interest. The output image is produced by detecting the scattered signal intensity at each pixel as the beam scans.
In a STEM – as in a TEM – the detector is mounted underneath the sample and picks up electrons which are transmitted through it. As such, STEM can only be used when the sample is sufficiently thin to be electron-transmissive.
In Covalent’s (S)TEM-enabled instruments, STEM offers improved spatial resolution compared to an SEM, and improved spatial correlation (for element mapping) compared to normal TEM.
Additional Resources
7 Myths About Modern TEM
IN Publications
April 21, 2021
S/TEM techniques have never been so approachable and affordable! Make sure you avoid these 7 Myths to make the most of S/TEM analysis.
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