The EMAL JEOL JSM-7800FLV scanning electron microscope is used for imaging and chemical analysis of solids. Secondary and back-scattered electron imaging can show morphologies, structures, textures, and qualitative compositional differences. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry can be used for qualitative and semi-quantitative measurements of elements heavier than beryllium. Cathodoluminescence imaging, which measures the light produced from a sample during electron bombardment, can help illustrate trace element distributions and grown structures in materials. Examples of images and data produced by the SEM can be found below (click on an image to see full size).

The SEM is a very versatile tool that has applications researchers from a variety of disciplines, including geology, chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, engineering, archaeology, and even art. Please contact the lab to learn more.

Electron Imaging

(Top left) Secondary electron image of germanium nanowires grown on silicon. (Top right) Back-scattered electron image of skeletal magnetite from a Columbia River Basalt lava flow. (Bottom left) Nanoporous microspheres. (Bottom right) Pollen grain from Solanum lycopersicum (tomato plan). Images courtesy of Q. Cheek, Department of Chemistry; S. Brehm, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences;Y. Doleyres, Macromolecular Science and Engineering Program; and S. Jaffri, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry

RGB composite energy-dispersive X-ray map showing the distribution of oxygen (red), nickel (green) and iron (blue) in a sample of the Canyon Diablo meteorite. Image courtesy J. Li, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and the students of EARTH315, Fall 2017.

Cathodoluminescence Imaging

Cathodoluminescence image showing trace element zoning in quartz (left) and apatite (right). Images courtesy J. Jolles and N. La Cruz, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Electron Backscatter Diffraction

(Left) EBSD map showing grain boundaries and the distribution of residual ferrite (red) in austenite steel (blue). (Right) Inverse pole figures showing the distribution of austenite grain crystallographic orientations.