激光晶体Nd:YVO4的形貌及生长缺陷

本文报道了应用环境扫描电镜（ESEM）和同步辐射X射线白光形貌术对采用提拉法生长出的Nd:YVO4晶体进行的形貌及生长缺陷的分析,获得了该晶体的开裂表面的ESEM形貌像以及取自晶体肩部和中间部位的（001）面的同步辐射白光形貌像,观察到了位错、包裹物等缺陷,可为生长高质量的Nd:YVO4晶体提供重要的启示.     

Minimizing sample evaporation in the environmental scanning electron microscope

The ElectroScan environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) enables wet samples to be observed by eliminating air but allowing water vapour into the sample chamber. However, evaporation from, and condensation on, the sample may occur during the pumpdown sequence used to reach this state, which means that the sample may not be in its natural state when viewed if due care is not taken. In this paper, the pumping system of the ESEM is described mathematically and expressions are derived for the evaporation and condensation. This treatment is then used to calculate the optimum pumpdown sequence. The importance of using the optimized procedure is illustrated by micrographs of fat emulsions.     

Direct preparation of particles from liquid suspension for ESEM or SEM analysis

A simplified method for the preparation of particles from liquid suspensions has been developed. Particles are deposited directly on carbon planchets for rapid analysis by environmental scanning electron microscopy or by conventional scanning electron microscopy after an additional drying step. This is accomplished by filtering the liquid through thin carbon planchets. Three different grades of graphite were investigated for their suitability as the source material for these planchets. The high quality isomolded graphite is recommended for the filtration and direct observation of particles by electron microscopy. This technique is demonstrated for particles in hydraulic fluid and aquatic suspended particulate material from a natural water source.     

Figure of merit for environmental SEM and its implications

A recently introduced figure of merit for environmental and low vacuum scanning electron microscopes has now been computed in the full operational pressure range for one commercial instrument. The direct simulation Monte Carlo method has been used in lieu of experimental measurements. The theory of this figure of merit is further consolidated. It is shown that a thin pressure limiting aperture can indeed be used as an optimum reference system for all instruments employing differential pumping in the transfer of an electron beam from high vacuum to high pressure. The implications of the results obtained are discussed both in relation to existing commercial instruments and associated literature to pave the way for future progress in the field.     

Real imaging and size values of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with comparable contrast tuning to two environmental scanning electron microscopy modes

The combined application of electron microscopy (EM) is frequently used for the microstructural investigation of biological specimens and plays two important roles in the quantification and in gaining an improved understanding of biological phenomena by making use of the highest resolution capability provided by EM. The possibility of imaging wet specimens in their "native" states in the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) at high resolution and large depth of focus in real time is discussed in this paper. It is demonstrated here that new features can be discovered by the elimination of even the least hazardous approaches in some preparation techniques, that destroy the samples. Since the analysis conditions may influence the morphology and the extreme surface sensitivity of living biological systems, the results obtained from the same cultured cell with two different ESEM modes (Lvac mode and wet mode) were compared. This offers new opportunities compared with ESEM-wet/Lvac-mode imaging, since wet-mode imaging involves a real contrast and gives an indication of the changes in cell morphology and structure required for cell viability. In this study, wet-mode imaging was optimized using the unique ability of cell quantities for microcharacterization in situ giving very fine features of topological effects. Accordingly, the progress is reported by comparing the results of these two modes, which demonstrate interesting application details. In general, the functional comparisons have revealed that the fresh unprocessed Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells (ESEM-wet mode) were essentially unaltered with improved and minimal specimen preparation timescales, and the optimal cell viability degree was visualized and also measured quantitatively while the cell size remained unchanged with continuous images.     

Study of the surfactant role in latex–aerogel systems by scanning transmission electron microscopy on aqueous suspensions

For insulation applications, boards thinner than 2 cm are under design with specific thermal conductivities lower than 15 mW m^?1 K^?1. This requires binding slightly hydrophobic aerogels which are highly nanoporous granular materials. To reach this step and ensure insulation board durability at the building scale, it is compulsory to design, characterise and analyse the microstructure at the nanoscale. It is indeed necessary to understand how the solid material is formed from a liquid suspension. This issue is addressed in this paper through wet‐STEM experiments carried out in an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). Latex–surfactant binary blends and latex–surfactant–aerogel ternary systems are studied, with two different surfactants of very different chemical structures. Image analysis is used to distinguish the different components and get quantitative morphological parameters which describe the sample architecture. The evolution of such morphological parameters during water evaporation permits a good understanding of the role of the surfactant.     

Effect of thermal and mechanical factors on rheological properties of high performance inulin gels and spreads

The aim of this study was analysis of a number of factors affecting the rheological properties of high performance inulin gels and spreads in comparison with commercial products. Inulin gels (20%, 25%, 30%), commercial and inulin model spread (20% canola oil, 20% inulin, 3% emulsifier) were analysed. Inulin particles in water environment absorbed water which caused an increase in viscosity of the inulin suspensions. Different temperatures of preparation, cooling rates and viscosity increase which appeared during the stirring of inulin suspensions did not significantly change the rheological parameters of the final gels in contrast to heating rates (p ? 0.05). In spite of rigid laboratory conditions high standard deviation for hardness and apparent viscosity showed how difficult the process of an inulin crystallization is to control. Rheological properties of inulin model spread exhibited thixotropic and shear thinning behaviour which made it similar to commercial spread. The applied structure destruction step in the manufacturing process should be applied to make inulin model spread comparable to commercial spreads.     

Applications of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) in biomaterials field

Various tasks were undertaken in our laboratory where environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) has been of particular interest within the biomaterials field. The possibility of observing wet samples, as well as the fact that sample preparation is minimal, has improved shorter time scales and lower costs in microscopy. Minimal preparation has also reduced the possibility of introducing artifacts. Examples like cell cultures used for pit resorption assays, calcium phosphate deposition processes, and dissolution of phosphate glasses used as biomaterials are presented. Finally, a servohydraulic testing machine designed for mechanical testing in situ in ESEM has allowed the study of shape memory alloys for orthodontic applications or the behavior of different adhesives used in odontology.     

环境扫描电镜中电荷环境的测量

在环境扫描电镜(ESEM)中,采用高灵敏度的pA-表测试系统,测量法拉第杯,以及Cu-Zn合金、单晶Si、单晶Al2O3三种样品的样品电流(ISP)。ISP值反映出由电子流和离子流控制的ESEM样品室内的电荷环境。法拉第杯的ISP反映出入射电子和离子所控制的电荷环境;样品的ISP反映出入射电子、信号电子和离子所控制的电荷环境。由ISP值可确定ESEM在不同操作和环境条件下的离子化效率、离子化饱和程度,以及气体分子的散射作用。