Wet-STEM tomography: Principles, potentialities and limitations

Karine Masenelli-Varlot (1, 2) , Annie Malchere (1, 2) , J. Ferreira (1) , H. Heidari Mezerji (3) , S. Bals (3) , C. Messaoudi (4, 5) , S. Marco Garrido (4, 5)

1 MATEIS - Matériaux, ingénierie et science [Villeurbanne]
2 CLYM - Consortium Lyon Saint-Etienne de Microscopie
3 EMAT University of Antwerp - Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgique
4 Institut Curie [Paris]
5 Imagerie intégrative de la molécule à l'organisme

The characterization of biological and inorganic materials by determining their three-dimensional structure in conditions closer to their native state is a major challenge of technological research. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) provides access to the observation of hydrated samples in water environments. Here, we present a specific device for ESEM in the scanning transmission electron microscopy mode, allowing the acquisition of tilt-series suitable for tomographic reconstructions. The resolution which can be obtained with this device is first determined. Then, we demonstrate the feasibility of tomography on wet materials. The example studied here is hydrophilic mesoporous silica (MCM-41). Finally, the minimum thickness of water which can be detected is calculated from Monte Carlo simulations and compared with the resolution expected in the tomograms.

Mots clés: Wet-stem; Tomography; Environmental; Monte Carlo simulation

Domaines: Matériaux

Karine Masenelli-Varlot, Annie Malchere, J. Ferreira, H. Heidari Mezerji, S. Bals, et al.. Wet-STEM tomography: Principles, potentialities and limitations. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 2014, 20 (2), pp.366-375. ⟨10.1017/S1431927614000105⟩. ⟨hal-01808022⟩