Sample Preparation
Our facility also offers microscope users many specialist sample preparation methods so that microscopists can get the best possible images.
Plasma Cleaning Using oxygen in argon plasma, this machine provides a more aggressive method for cleaning samples prior to imaging with electron microscopes.
Glow Discharging Glow discharging is a technique where a gentle plasma from dilute air is used to change the surface charge of grids or wafers and improve wetting of polar solvents.
Carbon coating The carbon coater is used to deposit a thin layer of amorphous carbon over samples for SEM to make them conductive and improve resolution.
Sputter Coating Sputter coaters can deposit thin layer of conductive metals such as platinum over non-conductive SEM samples and reduce charging effects.
Ultramicrotomy Ultramicrotomy is a technique where very thin layers of samples can be cut (~200 nm) using special microscopes fitted with diamond knives. The technique is usually applied to stabilize samples in resin for TEM imaging or to look at cross sections of larger samples.
Vitrobot The Vitrobot is used for vitrification of samples under controlled conditions limiting crystalline ice formation.
Leica EMGP2 A cryofixation machine, analogous to the Vitrobot, used to carefully deposit cryo samples on grids under controlled conditions.
Leica High Pressure Freezer The Wohlwend high pressure freezer is used to vitrify larger volumes and is one of 8 machines of this particular kind in the world capable of preparing samples in this manner.
Cryo Ultramicrotome The same technique as the room temperature ultramicrotomy described above, this microscope enables the cutting of thin sections of cryogenically frozen samples.
Negative Staining Negative staining with heavy metals is used to provide contrast to biological specimens making them visible in an electron microscope.
