Electron Microscopy

The Microscopy Core owns a basic transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) that are suitable for a large majority of biological EM imaging applications. For more specialized techniques, we have partnered with the Engineering School’s Michigan Center for Materials Characterization (MC2) to use their instruments. Core staff will still prepare samples and can collaborate with the (MC)2 staff to assist with imaging.

INSTRUMENTS LOCATED IN BSRB:

JEOL JEM 1400 plus TEM

Capabilities: Imaging of thin samples (<200 nm) using transmission electrons

Specifications:

    • LaB6 filament
    • Resolution: 0.38 nm
    • Accelerating voltages: 40 kV to 120 kV
    • Magnification: 10x to 1,200,000x
    • Equipped with 2k CMOS camera
    • Equipped with quick release room temperature retainer EM-11610 QR1 of ±20° tilt

Operations: Users are encouraged to be trained and operate the TEM independently.

Zeiss EVO 15 SEM

Capabilities: Imaging the surface of dehydrated samples

Specifications:

    • LaB6 filament
    • Accelerating voltages: 0.2 kV to 30 kV
    • Magnification: 5x to 1,000,000x
    • Resolution: 2 nm at 30 kV, 8 nm at 3 kV, and 15 nm at 1 kV
    • Maximum sample height: 145 mm
    • Stage rotation: 360°
    • Stage tilt: -10° to +90°
    • Equipped with secondary electron detector (SE)
    • Equipped with backscattered detector (BSD)
    • Equipped with cascade current detector (C2D)
    • Equipped with scanning transmission electron microscopy detector (STEM)

Operations: Users are encouraged to be trained and operate the SEM independently.

Leica EM ACE600 Sputter Coater

Capabilities: 

    • Glow discharging substrates and grids
    • Sputtering coating surfaces with gold or gold-palladium
    • Carbon coating substrates, grids, and sample surfaces

Specifications:

    • Oil-free high vacuum system equipped with turbomolecular pump
    • Equipped with quartz crystal to continuously monitor coating thickness
    • Rotary stage for even distribution of coating materials
    • Adjustable stage height and tilt during processing
    • Stage that holds two 76 mm x 26 m glass slides or 24 SEM pin stubs

Operations: This instrument is typically operated by BRCF staff. Training maybe available upon request.

Leica EM CPD300 Critical Point Dryer

Capabilities: Dehydration of water-containing samples with minimal damages and drying artifacts

Specifications:

    • Samples compatible with ethanol or acetone
    • Large 60 mm x 62 mm sample chamber and various sample containers
    • Maximum operating pressure: 79 bar (CO2 critical point is at 31°C and 73.8 bar)
    • Adjustable heating range: 33°C to 43°C
    • Adjustable Heating rate: 1°C/min as slow, 2°C/min as medium, 3°C/min as fast
    • Adjustable cooling range: 5°C to 25°C
    • Safety cutoff for pressure and temperature

Operations: This instrument is typically operated by BRCF staff. Training maybe available upon request.

Leica EM ICE High Pressure Freezer

Capabilities: 

    • Freezing biological samples in milliseconds to preserve delicate structures and transient processes
    • Cryo-fixing samples that cannot be chemically fixed, such as liposomes, hydrogels, and micelles

Specifications:

    • Cooling rate: 12000-25000 K/s
    • Working pressure: 2100 -2300 bar
    • Rise time 4-7 ms
    • P/T shift: 0-3 ms
    • Equipped with 3 mm flat specimen cartridge system
    • Equipped with 3 mm sapphire coverslip cartridge system

Operations: This instrument is typically operated by BRCF staff. Training maybe available upon request.

Leica EM AFS2 Freeze Substitution and Low Temperature Embedding System

Capabilities: 

    • Substitution of water in specimens at frozen temperatures
    • Resin embedding and UV polymerization at cryogenic temperatures
    • Other applications with progressive lowering of temperature

Specifications:

    • LN2 dewar: 35 L for 5-day consumption
    • Temperature: -140°C to 70°C
    • Deep Freeze mode < -140°C
    • Setup of 1-99 programmable steps
    • TF function that excludes water and oxygen from sample chamber
    • Equipped with Leica EM FSP for automated liquid exchange, mix, agitation, and UV polymerization

Operations: This instrument is typically operated by BRCF staff. Training maybe available upon request.

Leica EM UC7 Ultramicrotome

Capabilities: Sectioning soft samples to thin and semithin sections for microscopy

Specifications:

    • Specimen advance: 200 µm
    • Knife holder: for one 6-12 mm knife
    • Clearance angle: -2° to 15°
    • Cutting window: 0.2 to 14 mm
    • Cutting speed: 0.05 to 100 mm/s
    • Equipped with Ultra 45° Diatome for 30-200 nm sections

Operations: This instrument is typically operated by BRCF staff. Training maybe available upon request.

Leica EM FC7 Cryoultramicrotomy Chamber

Capabilities: Sectioning soft samples at cryogenic temperatures, e.g., frozen biological samples and rubbers

Specifications:

    • Sectioning temperature: -15° C to -185°C
    • Temperature difference setting for knife/sample: -40°C for knife and -170°C for sample
    • Knife holder: for two 6-10 mm knives
    • Equipped with Leica EM CRION ionizer for electrostatic charge and discharge functions
    • Equipped with micromanipulator for section collection

Operations: Serial sectioning of soft samples for array tomography 3D reconstruction from EM section images

Leica ARTOS 3D Ultramicrotome

Capabilities: Serial sectioning of soft samples for array tomography 3D reconstruction from EM section images

Specifications:

    • Specimen advance: 200 µm
    • Knife holder: for one 6-12 mm knife
    • Clearance angle: -2° to 15°
    • Cutting window: 0.2 to 14 mm
    • Cutting speed: 0.05 to 100 mm/s
    • Equipped with AT4 knife of 4 mm diamond blade

Operations: This instrument is typically operated by BRCF staff. Training maybe available upon request.

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