The Zeiss Sigma VP is a field emission SEM offering spatial resolutions of 1.5 nm. Its variable pressure system allows examination of insulating samples without the need for conductive coatings. It includes several detectors: In-lens SE, Everhart-Thornley SE2, Backscatter, STEM, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). It also has a cryo-stage and an Oxygen Plasma cleaner.
Instrumentation
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
The FEI Technai-12 Spirit (120kV) is capable of resolving down to 0.3 nm. It is heavily used in nano-scale investigations of nanoparticles, nanotubes, and biomaterials, such as imaging viral phages.
SCSU High Performance Linux Computing Cluster
This cluster includes CPUs and capacity for GPU calculations. It comprises eight compute-nodes (each with two Intel Xeon 2.88GHz Twelve Core CPUs, an NVIDIA Kepler Quadro graphics card, and 64 GB of memory), one head node, and a backup.
Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM/AFM/STM)
The Vecco Multimode Rev 8 with Nanonis RT control electronics is used for nanoscale imaging and spectroscopic measurements. It employs tips only a few atoms in radius to generate topography maps with nanoscale detail and can examine both conductive and non-conductive samples. A fluid cell attachment allows biological or polymer samples to be imaged in in vivo environments.
Scanning Electron Microscope (Desktop)
The Hitachi TM1000 is a portable SEM with up to 10,000X magnification, suitable for examining a wide variety of small samples. It includes an EDS detector for elemental composition analysis.
Optical Microscopy
This category includes the Zeiss Axio Lab A1, Zeiss Axio Scope A1 (with fluorescence microscopy capability), Olympus BH-2 Metallurgical Microscope, and Olympus Gx71 Inverted Optical Microscope.
Leica EM UC7/FC7 Microtome
The Leica EM UC7/FC7 is a high-precision ultramicrotome for preparing specimens for light, electron, and atomic force microscopy. Features include eucentric stereomicroscope viewing, motorized knife stage, LED illumination, touchscreen control, and optional cryo-sectioning capability. The FC7 cryo chamber enables frozen specimen sectioning with integrated temperature control and ionizer functionality.
Other Equipment
SPI Gold Sputter Coater
Allied High Tech, Inc. Techcut-4 Wafering Saw
Zeiss Axiolab A.1 Optical Microscope
Olympus Inverted Optical Microscope
Olympus BH-2 metallurgical microscope
Sorvall Ultra-Microtome, MT-2