Technology

SEM Technology Overview – Scanning Electron Microscopy

The information below is provided only as a general overview of Scanning Electron Microscopes and the imaging and analysis they can provide. The interested reader is encouraged to explore some of the much more thorough reviews found in books and around the web. Here are a few that we recommend:

See more references at our LINKS page

Interaction between electron and solid

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SEM Overview

Optical Microscope

Low resolving power, Low depth of focus

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Scanning Electron Microscope

 High resolving power, High depth of focus

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Overview of Scanning Electron Microscope Components

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SE (Secondary Electron)

Electron emitted backwards elastically when incident electron beam collided with the specimen

BSE (Backscattered Electron)

Electrons having energy less than 50eV generated in the specimen by inelastic collision of electronic beam and the specimen when incident electron beam collided with the specimen

SEM Overview

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Schematic of Scanning Electron Microscope internal components

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Electron Beam Manipulation

  1. How small the size of electron beam shot into specimen can get is the key of high resolution of SEM
  2. ELECRTON LENS

– Condenser Lens

  • Reduces crossover made up in Electron gun
  • Controls Spot size

– Objective Lens

  • Changes location of Prove crossover depending on optic axis
  • Focuses image
  • Generating electron ray
  • Lens system controlling electron ray
  • Scan Coil deciding magnification by deciding scanning area on the specimen
  • Stigmator eliminating astigmatism
  • Detector collecting Signal gained from specimen
  • CRT showing information gained from Detector
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Principle of Magnification of SEM

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Interaction volume and signal

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SE / BSE Detector Images

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SE(Secondary Electron)

Secondary Electrons form images with information with topographic contrast and are generally used to compose the overall image by observing the surface shape.

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BSE (Backscattered Electron)

BSE images have atomic weight contrast and show how the specimen is composed of various elements. The brightness increases in proportion to the increase in atomic weight or number

SE (Secondary Electron) Detector

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Secondary Electrons generated on the surface of a specimen by the energy gained from inelastic collision with beam electrons. Only a small amount of kinetic energy is transferred to secondary electrons because the amount of energy in beam electron is very small compared to the electrons of specimen.

Most SEMs utilize the Everhart-Thornley (E-T) Detector design. Photons are generated when activated electrons collide with a Scintillator.  They then move into a photomultiplier tube by total reflection in an optical waveguide. Photons can go through vacuum and quartz windows because they are in the form of light. Photons attract current from both poles, collect and go back to current at detectable points.

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Electrons directed at the sample and are scattered in various directions. These are divided into elastic or inelastic scattering of electron.

Elastic scattering of primary electron – Scattered electrons change momentum but energy changes less that 1eV. Because P=mv and m doesn’t change, only the direction of speed vector changes. Scattering angle is 0-180° and typically 5°. Elastic scattering is generated between negative electron and positive atomic nucleus. Some electrons have large scattering angle to be directed outside the sample and these are backscattered electrons.

Brighter portions of the BSE image above is copper and darker portions are aluminium. Energy during inelastic scattering is transferred to electrons around the atom and kinetic energy in activated electrons is reduced.

Image change depending on Accelerating Voltage

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Image distortion depending on Astigmatism

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Observation by SEM

Observation of
surface image

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Observation of cross
section structure

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Thickness
measurement

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Conclusion. Principle and feature of electron beam analyzing technique

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References

  1. Principle and Application of electron microscope
  2. Analysis of SEM and X-ray microanalysis

SEM Software

The videos below represent some of the capabilities with the software used to operate the SNE-3200 and SNE-4500 SEM systems.  Please re-visit this page as we will continue adding new clips about additional features.  These videos may not depict the most current capabilities and are intended to provide an example of how the SEM software functions. The most current interface features are listed in the Overview video (bottom).

EDS Elemental Analysis

We will be adding information specific to the Bruker and EDAX EDS Elemental Analysis systems here in the near future.  Please Contact Us to request access to some detailed video demonstration of  the Bruker ESPIRT software.

In the meantime, please visit the MyScope – EDS Training site for a great overview and background on Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy.

X-Ray Lines for Elements

We have compiled a very useful XLS spreadsheet listing all of the X-Ray peaks or lines using data from several sources such as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and other nationally recognized resources.  The XLS can show either the common lines or all lines.  It also highlights the most common overlaps of the major peaks commonly used for micro-analysis.  If you would liek a copy of this XLS for your own use, please Contact Us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and some helpful tips and tricks …

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