Microscopy

EMSL hosts a wide variety of sophisticated microscopy instruments, including electron microscopes, optical microscopes, scanning probe microscopes, and computer-controlled microscopes for automated particle analysis. These tools are used to image a range of sample types with nanoscale—and even atomic—resolution with applications to surface, environmental, biogeochemical, atmospheric, and biological science. Each of the state-of-the-art instruments and customized capabilities is equipped with features for specific applications.

• Nanoscale imaging – Many tools offer nanoscale and sub-nanoscale resolution for a wide variety of sample types, allowing users to study nanoscale chemical processes, such as interfacial electron transfer, organic thin film devices, and cell membrane proteins.
• Atomic-level imaging – EMSL users can obtain topographical information on a variety of materials, imaging down to individual atoms on a surface; this technique has been applied to nanostructures; geological samples; and biological samples, such as protein and biomolecule structures on a surface.
• Tomography – An electron microscope equipped for tomography allows users to obtain image series for three-dimensional reconstruction; complete with cryostage, this capability is primarily devoted to biological samples for morphological and immunocytochemistry studies and supports imaging of samples such as soft materials and polymers.
• Particle Analysis – A scanning electron microscope equipped with hardware and software for computer-controlled SEM/EDX analysis allows users to obtain detailed knowledge about the particle-type composition of non-volatile samples of atmospheric particles. Environmental scanning electron microscopy allows users to study hydration properties of environmental particles.
• Sample preservation – Techniques are available in environmental mode, which does not require extensive preparation procedures that can introduce imaging artifacts; live-cell and in situ imaging in liquids can be achieved with high resolution.
• Dynamic processes in real time – Tools are available to study femtosecond dynamical processes with unprecedented spatial resolution; complex reaction dynamics such as enzymatic reactions, protein-protein interactions, and interfacial electron transfer processes; protein-protein interactions, such as those involving cell signaling; and molecular interactions, such that they can be quantified at the level of a single molecule.
• NMR imaging – A 500-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging spectrometer can be used alone and integrated with confocal fluorescence microscopy; methods include mapping of biological systems with spectroscopy and diffusion.
• Complementary information – Many EMSL microscopes offer complementary probes to study different facets of samples simultaneously.

Capability Detail

Refer to the table below for a full listing, which leads to complete information about each of EMSL's microscopy instruments. Brief details about the primary microscopy tools available to EMSL users immediately follow.

• Electron microscopes with tomography, cryo, scanning, photoemission, and high-resolution (sub-nanometer) capabilities; different microscopes are dedicated to samples types, such as biological or atmospheric particles
• NMR microscopy (10-40 µm) to study the anatomy, metabolism, and transport processes of live cell cultures, biofilms, and tissue samples
• Dual Raman confocal microscope for radiological samples
• Optical microscopes to study reaction dynamics
• Single-molecule fluorescence tools to study molecular interactions in real time
• Spectroscopy tools with visible, near-, mid-, and far-infrared capabilities
• Atomic force microscopy capabilities to study nanoscale chemical processes
• Scanning probe microscopes to obtain high-resolution topographical information for a wide variety of sample types

All Related Publications Related Publications

1. Reversible Sol-Gel Transitions in Aqueous Solutions of N-Isopropylacrylamide Ionic Copolymers .
2. One-Electron-Transfer Reactions of Polychlorinated Ethylenes: Concerted and Stepwise Cleavages.
3. Investigation of the hygroscopic growth of self-assembled layers of N-alkyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bromides at the interface between air and organic salt .
4. In Vitro Evolution of a Peptide with a Hematite Binding Motif That May Constitute a Natural Metal-Oxide Binding Archetype.
5. Rapid Synthesis and Size Control of CuInS2 Semi-Conductor Nanoparticles Using Microwave Irradiation.

Related Research Highlights

1. The Synergy Between Molecular Theory and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy (Model System for NMR)
2. A New Mechanism for Ozonolysis of Unsaturated Organics on Solids: Phosphocholines on NaCl as a Model for Sea Salt Particles (Up in the Air)
3. Conductivity of Oriented Samaria-Doped Ceria Thin Films Grown by Oxygen-Plasma-Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy (The Good Samaria)
4. Alcohol Chemistry on Rutile TiO₂(110): The Influence of Alkyl Substituents on Reactivity and Selectivity (On the Surface)

Microscopy Capabilities Available at EMSL