Category: Electron Optics Facility News

Keyence VHX & LHX Lunch and Learn March 20, 2024

Detail from a Keyence microscope illustration.

I am pleased to extend an invitation to you for a Lunch and Learn session with Keyence on March 20th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Keyence is a leading provider of digital microscopes, and this session will provide valuable insights into their cutting-edge technologies and products. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in the field and discover how Keyence’s solutions can benefit your research.

The event will include presentations, demonstrations, and interactive discussions, followed by a complimentary lunch.

Date: March 20th
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: M&M 610

Please RSVP by March 15 using the RSVP FORM to confirm your attendance. Feel free to share this opportunity with any colleagues or members of your research group who may be interested. We look forward to having you join us for this informative session.

RSVP Form

Best,
Liz

Elizabeth Miller

Protochips Events on September 22, 2023

Jennifer McConnell
Jennifer McConnell

Seminar

Using Machine Vision to Drive Nanoscale Discoveries That Solve Real-World Problems

Jennifer McConnell

Senior Manager of Marketing & Product Management, Protochips

1 p.m. in ChemSci 102, Zoom available.

Lunch and Learn—In situ TEM

Minerals and Materials 607

Session 1 Corrosion: 11:15 a.m.–12 p.m.

Corrosion is a $2.6 trillion dollar problem that accounts for 3.4% of the global GDP, therefore it is well understood that testing and developing better materials to increase the durability of infrastructure such as bridges and ships could save $375-$875 billion annually. To develop resistant materials and corrosion-effective mitigation strategies, a deeper understanding of materials used, and the corrosion processes must first be elucidated.

Using the in-situ TEM systems from Protochips such as the Atmosphere AX (gas cell) and Poseidon AX (liquid cell), researchers can directly observe corrosion processes such as initiation and progression at the nanoscale in real time and under relevant conditions. By introducing corrosive environments while simultaneously monitoring material responses, valuable insights into the kinetics of corrosion reactions can be observed at the nanoscale.

Session 2 Catalysis: 12:15–1 p.m.

To combat climate change and the release of harmful chemicals in the environment, highly efficient catalysts must be developed. Using Atmosphere AX, the in-situ gas cell system from Protochips, researchers can investigate the morphology and atomic structure of catalyst materials, including nanoparticles, nanowires, and other nanostructures to develop more stable and sustainable catalytic systems. Moreover, in-situ TEM allows researchers to perform nanostructure characterization of catalyst-substrate interactions at high spatial resolutions to better understand catalytic processes including formation and evolution of reaction intermediates, surface restructuring, and catalyst deactivation in real time and under relevant catalytic conditions.

Register to attend once per session.

ESEM Upgrade to SEMTech 8000

Instrument Offline from 8/1 to 8/18

SEMView8000 Operator Console

I am writing to inform you about an exciting upgrade to our Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) system. ACMAL has received funding to upgrade the ESEM with the SEMView8000. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Vice President for Research Office, the Institute for Materials Processing, the Materials Science and Engineering Department, and the MSE Senior Design team for making this upgrade possible.

The instrument will be temporarily offline from August 1 to August 18 to facilitate the installation of the SEMTech 8000 upgrade. During the upgrade period, the ESEM system will be inaccessible, and no reservations or usage will be possible. We kindly request that you plan your projects accordingly and make alternative arrangements for your imaging and analysis requirements during this period.

To ensure a smooth transition and help you familiarize yourself with the upgraded system, we will be offering training sessions for all ESEM users. These training sessions are mandatory for anyone intending to use the SEMTech 8000. The sessions will be conducted starting from August 19, once the upgrade is complete.

To schedule your training session, please sign up for training. You will be directed to our self-scheduling calendar, where you can choose a time slot that suits you best. Appointments are available starting August 19. Due to limited availability, we recommend scheduling your session at your earliest convenience.

We understand that this temporary unavailability and the training requirement may cause some inconvenience, and we apologize for any disruption it may cause to your work. However, we believe that the benefits of the SEMTech 8000 upgrade and the subsequent training will be instrumental in advancing our research capabilities.

If you have any urgent projects or time-sensitive samples requiring ESEM imaging during the upgrade period, please let us know as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate your needs either before or after the downtime.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this upgrade process. The improved capabilities of the SEMTech 8000, along with the training sessions, will undoubtedly enhance our research capabilities and contribute to the success of our projects.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the ESEM upgrade, the training sessions, or their impact on your work, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. I am here to address any inquiries or provide additional information.

Related

Upgrades for ACMAL’s Environmental Scanning Microscope

ACMAL Welcomes EOF Lab Assistant Devon Miner

We would like to officially welcome our new lab assistant Devon Miner. Devon is an undergraduate in the Physics department and is planning on going to graduate school to study how to apply physics to nanotechnology. He enjoys outdoor activities throughout the entire year with some of his personal favorites being hiking and skiing. You can contact Devon if you need assistance with sample preparation or coating.

Devon Miner

Call for Content: ACMAL Micrograph

Micrograph showing a sample structure and 30 micron scale.

We at ACMAL are excited to announce that we are in the process of updating our micrograph posters.

We would greatly appreciate your valuable contributions to make them even more captivating. Though the initial focus is on electron images, we are also open to including other types of images, such as EDS/EBSD maps, that demonstrate the diverse range of analytical techniques available in our lab.

If you have captured any remarkable micrographs that you believe would be suitable for inclusion on our posters, we kindly invite you to share them with us. Your contributions will not only showcase your expertise but also contribute to the overall excellence of our collection.

To streamline the submission process, we have created an online form where you can easily upload your micrographs.

Micrograph Submission Form

We are eager to feature a diverse range of micrographs, highlighting the advancements and discoveries within the field of electron optics. Your submissions will help us showcase the remarkable work being done by our community.

Thank you in advance for your participation and for sharing your impressive micrographs. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Upgrades for ACMAL’s Environmental Scanning Microscope

ESEM column and sample chamber.

The FEI Philips XL 40 Environmental Scanning Microscope (ESEM) is a large chamber scanning electron microscope. It is operated by a Michigan Tech shared facility, the Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory (ACMAL). ACMAL was awarded a Shared Facility Grant from the Associate Vice President of Research Development to upgrade the ESEM electronics and software system. The upgrade is expected to offset future repair costs and minimize instrument downtime.

If you have not considered the ESEM for your research, this instrument is capable of operating in high vacuum mode for conventional scanning electron microscopy.

The ESEM supports large area montage imaging and elemental mapping (up to a few square centimeters), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS)-based phase analysis, chemical contrast imaging and EDS-based particle analysis, as well as crystallographic phase mapping, texture analysis and grain size orientation distribution by electron backscatter diffraction.

Contact ACMAL Director Elizabeth Miller with questions. You may request instrument training, sample preparation or sample analysis services. Remote training and collaboration are available. Request a tour for yourself and your team. We can help you select an instrument and find expertise in developing process plans for your research.

Current users are reminded to cite ACMAL in all publications arising from research using these instruments. Help us to build a community of electron microscopists.

Electron Crystallography in the TEM Seminar April 13, 2023

Erico Freitas operating the STEM.

Erico Freitas

Research Scientist, Materials Science and Engineering
Michigan Technological University

Electron Crystallography in the TEM: Using CBED to Determine Bravais Lattice, Point and Space Group, Lattice Parameters Refinement

Materials Science and Engineering Seminar

Thursday, April 13, 2023, 1 – 2 p.m.

Minerals and Materials Engineering Building (M&M) , 610

ACMAL Welcomes EOF Lab Assistants Zoe Hoffman and Maci Dostaler

We would like to officially welcome our two new lab assistants: Zoe Hoffman and Maci Dostaler. Also, congratulations to our previous senior lab assistant, Aleister Kerr. Aleister has taken a new position off campus and will no longer be working with us.

Zoe Hoffman

Zoe Hoffman is a current student at Michigan Tech majoring in Medical Laboratory Science with a minor in Pre-Health from southeast Michigan. She has always found the idea of working in a laboratory fun and likes to assist in the ACMAL‌ unit.

Maci Dostaler is currently an undergraduate student in Michigan Tech’s Biomedical Engineering program. She has lived in the Copper Country all of her life and is a proud first-generation college student. After graduation, she is hoping to work with imaging and non-invasive lasers. She is involved deeply around campus from volunteering to Greek life! In her free time she loves to challenge herself in snowboarding competitions both throughout the midwest and nationally.

You can contact Maci and Zoe if you need assistance with sample preparation or coating.