Electron Microprobe Laboratory

This facility is available to clients from academia, government, industry, and the private sector for rapid chemical and spatial characterization of solid samples using electron microbeam methods. The facility is based upon a fully computer-automated CAMECA SX100 electron probe micro-analyzer that is equipped with five wavelength-dispersive x-ray spectrometers, integrated energy-dispersive x-ray analyzer, standard SEM imaging capabilities, and cathodoluminescence detector. A full-time staff is available to conduct analyses and for consultation or instruction.

• Full quantitative analysis of elements with atomic numbers from 5 (boron) to 92 (uranium)
• Qualitative to semi-quantitative analysis of major to minor elements in seconds
• Analysis of particles or areas down to ~2-5 mm in diameter, in samples up to several cm²
• Imaging capabilities including secondary electron, backscattered electron, x-ray intensity, absorbed current, and cathodoluminescence signals that are acquired and stored in digital format
• On-line and off-line data reduction, statistical analysis, spreadsheets, graphics, and qualitative or quantitative image analysis

Essentially any solid material that is stable under high vacuum can be analyzed and/or imaged with the microprobe. These include, but are not limited to: (1) minerals (rocks), salts, and synthetic crystals; (2) glasses and ceramics; (3) bone and shells; (4) coal and dried organic tissues; (5) metals and their corrosion products; and (6) electronic components. Thus, the electron microprobe can be applied to studies involving the composition, morphology, or abundance and distribution of phases within a wide variety of solid materials.