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  1. Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform
  2. MCFP Learning
  3. Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • Introduction
  • Applications of SEM
  • All Fundamentals of SEMThe sourceThe columnThe chamber and sample stageElectron interactions and detected signalsVacuum modes
  • All Getting good imagesSample preparationBeam conditionsChoosing the detectorFocussing and working distanceBrightness and contrastScan speedStigmatism
  • Get into the lab!

Scanning Electron Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy, or SEM for short, is an incredibly powerful tool for materials characterisation. It is used widely throughout academic and industrial research labs, to help scientists visualise and inspect materials and surfaces.

In this module we will introduce you to the basic concepts of the SEM. You will learn:

  • What is an SEM
  • How is SEM applied in research
  • Its strengths and weaknesses
  • How an SEM works, including different modes of operation, detectors, and signals
  • How to get the best results from an SEM

How to navigate MCFP Learning

You can follow through this course in order by clicking the blue buttons at the end of each section, like the one below. You can also navigate directly to sections of interest within a course by using the context menu on the left (or at the top if you are on a mobile device). You can return home via the menu at the top or the green button at the bottom of each page.

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Materials Characterisation and Fabrication Platform

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      • Zeiss Elyra 7 Lattice SIM
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    • Electron and Ion Microscopy
      • Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
      • Helium ion microscopy and dual-beam nanofabrication
      • Sample Preparation
    • X-Ray Characterisation
      • X-ray diffraction (XRD)
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We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of the unceded lands on which we work, learn and live. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous knowledge in the Academy.

Read about our Indigenous priorities

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