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Characterize materials and biological samples in situ with Quattro ESEM
The Thermo Scientific Quattro ESEM makes it possible to see your samples—and the ways in which they might change—under conditions that more closely match their in situ environment. With built-in heating capabilities, you can watch as your sample reacts to changes in temperature. And with control over relative humidity, you can view samples in suspension and avoid drying artifacts. Plus, our advanced software can automate image acquisition to simplify your workflow.
In situ nanoparticle heating with the μHeater Holder
Understanding high-temperature phenomena like particle melting and recrystallization is crucial. Traditional SEM imaging, limited to room-temperature characterization, captures data before and after heat treatment but cannot observe microstructural evolution during heating. It can also make it difficult to monitor the same area of interest, which can be lost due to thermal drift. The Thermo Scientific µHeater Holder overcomes these challenges, enabling in situ heating experiments in the Thermo Scientific Quattro ESEM.
In this example, continuous monitoring of magnetite and hematite nanoparticles during heating and cooling revealed melting and recrystallization into two distinct populations. EDS analyses at different temperatures highlighted compositional changes, with some particles showing higher iron content and others increased oxygen levels, advancing insights into the material’s behavior at high temperatures.
Microstructural changes of the area of interest during the heating and cooling process.
EDS map acquired on the heated area. The iron and oxygen maps show an inhomogeneous distribution of iron in the three particles on the top right area of the image. The two spectra come from two particles showing different compositions.
WetSTEM Technology for flexible in situ experiments with SEM and STEM imaging
Thermo Scientific WetSTEM Technology is a powerful solution for imaging wet samples and bulk materials in transmission mode with the Quattro ESEM. The WetSTEM Holder was designed to provide top-down SEM and STEM imaging while maintaining a high relative humidity, making it possible to study hydrated samples and suspensions.
For example, hydrated pollen and silver nanoparticles in solution were successfully imaged with pressures around 800 Pa, avoiding drying artifacts and providing high-resolution details. This flexibility enables dynamic imaging of wet samples, which is crucial for fields like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and materials science.
Secondary electron image of hydrated pollen obtained in ESEM mode with a pressure of 800 Pa (left) and bright field STEM image of silver nanoparticles acquired in ESEM mode with a pressure of 660 Pa (right).
Automated large-area SEM imaging of wet wood fibers using Maps 3 Software
The Quattro ESEM offers exceptional versatility for tackling complex analytical tasks. Characterizing large areas of wet or humid materials can be particularly challenging when conditions fluctuate, or surface properties change. The Quattro ESEM and Thermo Scientific Maps 3 Software effectively address these challenges.
For example, the two were used to perform a large-area characterization of compressed wood to monitor topographical changes in a wet environment under varying conditions, all without requiring multiple experiments. Maps 3 Software automated the acquisition and stitching of multiple images, enabling comprehensive analysis in a single run.
This approach generated a dataset that provided a detailed overview of the entire surface, which was further used to navigate the sample and identify regions of interest for high-magnification analysis. For instance, it revealed features such as water droplets and water-coated mycelium.
View of Maps 3 Software’s user interface showing the presence of two different datasets acquired on each fragment. The image on the right shows the overlay of the navigation camera image and the two acquired tile sets.
Secondary electron images acquired on the fully hydrated sample (pressure 700 Pa, RH around 100%). The right image highlights a water-coated mycelium.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.