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Wet-STEM Tomography: Principles, Potentialities and Limitations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2014

Karine Masenelli-Varlot*
Affiliation:
Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, MATEIS UMR5510, 7 avenue J. Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France
Annie Malchère
Affiliation:
Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, MATEIS UMR5510, 7 avenue J. Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France
José Ferreira
Affiliation:
Université de Lyon, INSA-Lyon, MATEIS UMR5510, 7 avenue J. Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne cedex, France
Hamed Heidari Mezerji
Affiliation:
EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
Sara Bals
Affiliation:
EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium
Cédric Messaoudi
Affiliation:
Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Centre Universitaire d’Orsay, Bât. 112, 91405 Orsay cedex, France INSERM U759, Centre Universitaire d’Orsay, Bât. 112, 91405 Orsay cedex, France
Sergio Marco Garrido
Affiliation:
Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Centre Universitaire d’Orsay, Bât. 112, 91405 Orsay cedex, France INSERM U759, Centre Universitaire d’Orsay, Bât. 112, 91405 Orsay cedex, France
*
*Corresponding author. [email protected]
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Abstract

The characterization of biological and inorganic materials by determining their three-dimensional structure in conditions closer to their native state is a major challenge of technological research. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) provides access to the observation of hydrated samples in water environments. Here, we present a specific device for ESEM in the scanning transmission electron microscopy mode, allowing the acquisition of tilt-series suitable for tomographic reconstructions. The resolution which can be obtained with this device is first determined. Then, we demonstrate the feasibility of tomography on wet materials. The example studied here is hydrophilic mesoporous silica (MCM-41). Finally, the minimum thickness of water which can be detected is calculated from Monte Carlo simulations and compared with the resolution expected in the tomograms.

Type
In Situ Special Section
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2014 

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