Ruedas, Pauline C. Santos, Reign Jazmine G. Sevilla, Jade Andrea C. Seviila, Kien Miguel U. Valladolid, Raphael Angelo E. Vergara, Francine Alyza V. Villaluna, Darrilyn C. Introduction to TEM • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a technique used to observe the features of very small specimens. The technology uses an accelerated beam of electrons, which passes through a very thin specimen to enable a scientist the observe features such as structure and morphology. • The technology was first developed by German scientists Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska in 1931 and has evolved over the years to become a common technique that is used globally in science and engineering to look at micro and nanoparticles. Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska Uses of Transmission Electron Microscope • A Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) utilizes energetic electrons to provide morphologic, compositional and crystallographic information on samples. • At a maximum potential magnification of 1 nanometre, TEMs are the most powerful microscopes. TEMs produce high-resolution, two-dimensional images, allowing for a wide range of educational, science and industry applications. • A Transmission Electron Microscope functions under the same basic principles as an optical microscope. • In a TEM, electrons replace photons, electromagnetic lenses replace glass lenses and images are viewed on a screen rather than through an eyepiece. Magnification • Light microscopes are great and all, but sometimes their (relatively) low magnification and resolution are unsatisfactory for viewing very small things, like Organelles within cells. In these circumstances, and Electron Microscope may be used. Electrons have a much lower wavelength than light (100000 times shorter in fact, at 0.004nm) which means that they can be used to produce an image with resolution as great as 0.1nm. Electron Microscopes can have magnifications of ×500000. • There are different types of Electron Microscope. A Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)produces a 2D image of a thin sample, and has a maximum resolution of ×500000. Resolution • Resolution is the amount of detail you can see in an image. You can enlarge a photograph indefinitely using more powerful lenses, but the image will blur together and be unreadable. Therefore, increasing the magnification will not improve the resolution. This is also known as the resolving power. • In a TEM, a monochromatic beam of electrons is accelerated through a potential of 40 to 100 kilovolts (kV) and passed through a strong magnetic field that acts as a lens. The resolution of a TEM is about 0.2 nanometers (nm). This is the typical separation between two atoms in a solid. What is a Transmission Electron Microscope? • Electrons pass through a (very thin) sample (i.e. are transmitted) to form an image. • This technology can tell us about the structure, crystallization, morphology and stress of a substance whereas scanning electron microscopy can only provide information about the morphology of a specimen. However, TEM requires very thin specimens that are semi-transparent to electrons, which can mean sample preparation takes longer. Principle TEM operates on the same basic principles as the light microscope but uses electrons instead of light. Since, light microscope is limited by the wavelength of light. TEMs use electrons as a “light source” and their much lower wavelength makes it possible to get a resolution a 1000 times better than with a light microscope. Instrument Main Components of TEM The TEM can be broken down into a few main components, these are: • The Gun – which produces electrons. • The condenser system – which forms the probe. • The sample – sample preparation is important, and time consuming. • Image formation – use of image plane or back focal plane. • Intermediate lens- transmitting and magnifying the first enlarged diffraction or image pattern to projector lens. • Projection of the image (magnification), viewing and recording. Advantages of TEM A Transmission Electron Microscope is an impressive instrument with a number of advantages such as: • TEMs offer the most powerful magnification, potentially over one million times or more • TEMs have a wide range of applications and can be utilized in a variety of different scientific, educational and industrial fields • TEMs provide information on element and compound structure • Images are high quality and detailed Disadvantages of TEM • TEMs are large and very expensive • Laborious sample preparation • Operation and analysis requires special training • Samples are limited to those that are electron transparent, able to tolerate the vacuum chamber and small enough to fit in the chamber • TEMs require special housing and maintenance • Images are black and white. • Electron microscopes are sensitive to vibration and electromagnetic fields and must be housed in an area that isolates them from possible exposure. • A Transmission Electron Microscope requires constant upkeep including maintaining voltage, currents to the electromagnetic coils and cooling water.