Scanning Electron Microscopes

Invented:

1937

Cost:

¥uge amounts of money

Resolution:

No Depth

5x10^-10m (lateral)

How do Scanning Electron Microscopes work?

Scanning Electron Microscopes fire a beam of electrons through some lenses that focus the beam onto the surface. Electromagnets are used to direct the beam across the surface. As the beam hits the surface, it produces various signals and stuff. These are detected, and turned into an image of the surface.

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Advantages:

• There is a way to find the colour of the surface (even though the detail is smaller than a normal wavelength of light)
• Very fast - can image a small area in real time
• Can image a relatively large area at a time

Disadvantages

• Requires a vacuum
• Only produces 2D images - two scans are required to extrapolate some topology
• Samples need to be prepared, and this can damage them

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