1. Run a trial session with an experienced user

You can arrange to run one of your samples. Talk to, or email Prof. Karen Kavanagh (kavanagh@sfu.ca, office P9443 Shrum Science Bldg).  Discuss Your Project: Ask whether our microscopes can do the job? Would another scope be a better choice? How will you prepare your sample for TEM or HIM.

2. Start using the facility

Basic TEM skills: Novice TEM users typically find the Hitachi TEM easier to learn and more resistant to errors. Digital bright and dark field images with selected area diffraction are easy to obtain and can be used to quickly screen the viability of the sample. With this preparation, one can more easily move on to training on the Osiris STEM in 4D Labs.

Basic HIM skills: The HIM is much like a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in size since it has a smaller ion beam energy (10 keV to 40 keV) compared to the electrons in a TEM (80 keV to 200 keV). Sample preparation and operation of the HIM is easy to learn in a couple of hours. Your sample does NOT need to be coated if it is non-conducting, since the HIM operates with a low energy electron flood gun to neutralize any charging.