The Instrumentation Center

Scanning Electron Microscope

The SCOPE Program began with the purchase of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in 2010. Since 2011, the SEM has been used remotely by hundreds of students. It is an ideal instrument for SCOPE, as it:

• allows users to study the surface morphology of samples
• allows users to magnify samples up to 1,000,000 times
• is user-friendly, allowing users as young as third grade to control

Additionally, the SEM is equipped with an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer (EDS), allowing elemental analysis of samples.

We have many stock samples available and remain as flexible as possible, allowing students to send in their own samples. Any samples sent in by students must:

• be completely free of moisture or be able to be chemically dried (we can do this part)
• be small enough to fit on our sample stubs (slightly larger than a #2 pencil eraser, we can also cut them down as needed)

For sample SEM session modules, click on the link to the right.