Instruments

Vibratory Polisher

The Vibro Met 2 vibratory polisher removes minor deformation remaining after mechanical polishing and generates a stress-free surface suitable for electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The samples are submerged in alumina or colloidal silica suspensions under the weight of 90 grams.

Glass Knife Maker

The GKM-2 glass knife maker uses commercial glass strips with a normal length of 200 mm and 6 mm in thickness. Glass squares are first produced from glass strips by breaking the strip into 25 mm glass squares. The squares are scored nearly exactly diagonally, as close to 45° as possible, to create knives of maximum sharpness for the microtome sectioning.

Optical Microscope

The Olympus BX-41 has 5 objective lenses: 5x, 10x, 20x, 50x and 100x. All objectives can be used to conduct reflected bright field/dark field/diffraction interference microscopy and transmitted bright field microscopy. However, transmitted dark field microscopy can only be conducted with 5x, 10x, and 20x objectives and transmitted DIC microscopy cannot be performed. With an attached 8 MP Arktur camera (Jenoptik), many advanced image processing can be performed.

Mechanical Grinder-Polisher

The Buehler grinder-polisher is for highly-reproducible mechanical polishing. The EcoMetTM 250 pro base features an 8-inch platen and a color touch-screen panel for recipe creation and storage. The AutoMetTM 250 power head provides variable head rotations in the single-force mode. It can grind or polish up to 6 one-inch-diameter specimens simultaneously.

Ultramicrotome

RMC PT-XL Ultramicrotome can be used for the preparation of ultra-thin sections for electron microscopy. Automatic sectioning thickness range is from 50 nm up to 1 µm. This unit is equipped with a stereo microscope for a clear view of the sample and knife edge. Biological samples have to be chemically fixed, and embedded in a resin block. The ultra-thin sections, usually with lateral dimensions of ~ 1 mm x 1 mm, can be collected on a TEM grid for electron microscopy. It is also possible to collect the thin sections on a microscope glass slide for optical microscopy.

Scanning Electron Microscope

The field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) has multiple capabilities. Besides the traditional high vacuum mode to image conductive material, the FE-SEM has a low vacuum mode to image dry insulator and an environmental mode to image wet/biological samples without long hours of chemical fixation, which is prone to artifacts.

About the Scanning Electron Microscope

Laser Microdissection Scope

The Leica Laser MicroDissection Scope (LMD 6500) is ideal for standard laser microdissection applications, e.g. reliable single cell or tumor isolation from soft tissue sections.

About the Laser Microdissection Scope

Carbon Metal Coater

EMS-150 ES is a high vacuum coating system with an interchangeable insert for metal sputter coating or carbon evaporation. Currently, we sputter Au/Pd to provide a conductive thin film to inhibit ‘charging’, reduce thermal damage and enhance secondary electron emission in Scanning Electron Microscopy. Carbon coater, via thermal evaporation, can provide thin carbon film for Energy dispersive X-ray analysis for non-conducting samples.

Critical Point Dryer

The Tousimis Autosamdri -931 series is an automatic supercritical point drying apparatus for sample preparation at microscopy core facility. It uses ethanol and liquid carbon dioxide to dehydrate the sample. Autosamdri -931 series has an LCD touchscreen control with 1.25” ID x 1.25” Depth Chamber size. It can store and run customized recipes.

Various sample holders can hold up to 12 (size <= 7 mm) specimen, or 10 (diameter 9-13 mm) glass cover slips, or 5 (size 1cm x 1cm) die, or 1 (size 1 inch large capacity) holder.

To prevent damage, NO acids (HF, H2SO4, etc.) is allowed into the chamber. Only ultra-pure alcohols (ethanol, methanol, isopropanol) is allowed as drying agent. All meter valves have been preset, no additional adjustments are necessary.

User Manual