Molecular Analysis Facilty Tool

SEM – Apreo 2S

Make/Model: ThermoFisher Scientific
Location: MolES G44O
The Apreo-2S is a versatile, high-performance, scanning electron microscope (SEM) capable of single-nanometer resolution and excellent back-scatter contrast on well-prepared materials. No-touch x-ray cone installation simplifies access to low-vacuum charge control. CL detector collects light emission from semiconductors and minerals. EDAX EDS and windowless direct-electron EBSD allow for low energy elemental and grain orientation analysis.
  • Instrument Details

Key Capabilities

The four available imaging modes are suitable for characterizing a wide range of materials.
  • Immersion mode with T1, T2, and T3 detectors generally gives the highest resolution images and is suitable for electrically conductive, non-magnetic samples.
  • Optiplan mode with T1, T2, and ETD detectors can approach 1nm resolution on conductive materials including magnetic samples.
  • Standard mode with T1 & ETD is suited to high-resolution imaging of rough and porous surfaces.
  • Low-vacuum mode controls sample charging, enabling SE & BSE imaging of materials with electrical resistance greater than 1010 Ohm without conductive coating.
A hybrid 5th mode, compound lens filtering, is available to enhance compositional contrast on non-magnetic samples,
Additional detectors:
  • A retractable cathodoluminescence (CL) detector collects red, green, and blue luminescence from semiconductors and minerals.
  • Characteristic x-ray analysis and elemental mapping with EDAX EDS.
  • Crystal orientation imaging with EDAX Clarity windowless direct-electron EBSD as low as 3kV
Software:
  • Native measurement and annotation tools
  • Signal mixing and filtering capabilities
  • Thermofisher MAPS with correlative workflow automates large area image acquisition in hi-def and supports import and alignment to images from other sources.
  • Autoscript customization toolkit with integrated IDE


Data Produced

  • Secondary Electron, Back-scatter Electron, and CL micrographs
  • EDS spectra and maps
  • EBSD maps, grain statistics, mis-orientation and strain maps
  • Hi-Def tile sets of large sample areas


Compatible Samples

Samples must be compatible with a chamber vacuum of 10-6 mBar. Any residual solvents or residues on the sample that outgas at this pressure will interfere with imaging and can contaminate the instrument. 5-axis motorized eucentric stage, 110 x 110 mm2 with a 105° tilt range. Maximum sample weight: 5 kg in un-tilted position.