Electron Microscopy, NMR & Mass Spectometry News

Multi-touch Interface Creates New Electron Microscope Experience with JEOL InTouch Scope™

JEOL offers a whole new electron microscope experience with the introduction of the InTouch Scope™, an analytical, low vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) featuring integrated Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) with the latest Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) technology.

The new InTouch Scope has the familiar feel of today’s personal electronic media. The intuitive multi-touch screen interface puts all SEM “Apps” at the operator’s fingertips. The user can expand windows and images with the sweep of two fingers, dial in magnification and focus with a swipe, and select operating parameters, analytical functions, or measure distances just by tapping the PC or notebook touch screen.

Ease of use is a key feature of all JEOL SEMs, and the versatile InTouch Scope has functions that users of all levels will appreciate:

• automatic SEM condition setup based on sample type
• simultaneous multiple live image and movie capture
• easy sample navigation at 5x – 300,000x magnifications
• quantitative and qualitative elemental analysis
• low and high vacuum operation
• Wireless capability.

The In-Touch Scope features all the capabilities of a full size tungsten SEM with integrated EDS analysis in a small, ergonomic and intuitive design. An onboard turbo pump make this a truly self-contained, portable SEM that is easy to set up anywhere in the lab.

JEOL Reinvents Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry with Innovative SpiralTOF™ MALDI-TOF System

JEOL announced the introduction of the company’s first commercially available MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, the JEOL JMS-S3000 SpiralTOF™. The SpiralTOF reinvents Time-of-Flight ion optics with an extended flight length in a compact footprint, delivering a resolving power of greater than 60,000 (FWHM) over a wide mass range of m/z 10-30,000 - the highest resolving power of all commercial MALDI-TOF systems.

JEOL’s patented technology consists of a staggered figure-8 ion trajectory of 17 meters. By refocusing the ion packets during each turn, the divergence of the ions is reduced over the flight distance. The SpiralTOF ion optical system is engineered to overcome the limits of delayed extraction with kinetic energy convergence resulting in high sensitivity, resolving power and mass accuracy (less than 1ppm) over a wide mass range.

To meet the diverse needs of researchers, the SpiralTOF is available in four configurations:

• MALDI-TOFMS with unsurpassed high mass resolving power and high mass accuracy
• Linear TOF option for high sensitivity analysis of high molecular weight samples and/or those that undergo post-source decay
• TOF/TOF option for acquiring high energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) product ion spectra of monoisotopically selected precursor ions
• TOF/TOF plus Linear TOF for full analytical capability

With the addition of the SpiralTOF to its mass spectrometer product line, JEOL makes available a unique analytical instrument for proteomics, synthetic polymers, materials, and biomolecules.

JEOL offers a full suite of mass spectrometry systems: the first commercially-available open air ion source, Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART®), paired with its AccuTOFTM-DART Time-of-Flight mass spectrometer; the GC-TOF AccuTOF-GCv mass spectrometer; the JEOL MStation double focusing magnetic sector mass spectrometer; and the GCMate II benchtop GC/MS. Additionally, a family of 300 to 930MHz NMR spectrometers completes its chemical analysis product line.

First JEOL JEM-ARM200F Electron Microscope Produces Atomic Resolution Data in Record Time at University of San Antonio

The first transmission electron microscope of its caliber to be installed, the eagerly awaited atomic resolution JEOL JEM-ARM200F TEM arrived at the University of Texas at San Antonio in January, and by early February began producing outstanding imaging results.
“Achieving raw HAADF images showing at least 78 picometer information transfer in just three weeks demonstrates the stability of this all-new instrument and the skill of the UTSA-JEOL team to quickly power up the first TEM of its kind,” said Dr. Thomas Isabell, JEOL USA Director of the TEM Product Division.

UTSA physics and astronomy department chair Dr. Miguel Yacaman, a renowned electron microscopist and nanotechnology researcher, tested the new ARM200F performance on Si <110> samples as the JEOL engineering, service and applications team worked closely together to install the TEM in UTSA’s Advanced Microscopy Lab.

“At the level of this new microscope, the potential for new discoveries is enormous,” says Yacaman, who likened the capabilities of the JEOL ARM200F for sub-atomic research to those of the Hubble telescope for intergalactic exploration.

The ARM200F represents more than 60 years of TEM expertise at JEOL and was designed from the ground up to integrate aberration correction into a super-shielded electron column that safeguards the ultrahigh-powered optics from environmental interferences.

“This first installation of the ARM200F demonstrates that JEOL is out in front in the development of stable, ultra-quality instruments and showcases just what our service and applications teams are capable of.” said Isabell.

The JEM-ARM200F enables both atom-by-atom imaging resolution and unmatched spatial resolution for atom-to-atom chemical mapping of materials, including EDS (energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy) and EELS (electron energy-loss spectroscopy). The completely new electron column design integrates S/TEM with Cs correction for atomic spatial energy resolution combined with high probe currents for microanalysis.

ClairScope™ (JASM-6200)

JEOL Ltd. (Gon’emon Kurihara, President) announced a new hybrid microscope, JASM-6200 “ClairScope™” to be distributed in August 2009.

Design Principle

ClairScope™ consists of an atmospheric scanning electron microscope (ASEM) and an optical microscope positioned on top. The ASEM is isolated from the SEM with a thin film installed at the top end of the inverted SEM. The thin film, designed to transmit an electron beam while blocking air, separates the sample in atmosphere from the vacuum in the SEM. The electron beam is projected from below to the sample placed on the thin film for high resolution imaging of the sample in atmosphere. The same area of view of the sample can also be imaged in the optical microscope on top. The thin film is configured in a dish (thin film dish), which can be used for cell culture in a culture chamber.

Features

SEM imaging in complete atmospheric pressure

The sample is held in complete atmospheric pressure, enabling dynamic observation of physical and chemical reactions in liquids and gases. Lengthy preliminary treatment of biological samples, including dehydration and drying, is no longer necessary, resulting in high throughput imaging. The microscope, without the limitations of vacuum atmosphere, will broaden the range of applications.

Imaging of the same area of view as optical microscope

The top of the thin film is open, joined to the optical microscope. The optical microscope being aligned with the ASEM, the operator can image the same area of view alternately between both microscopes.

The optical microscope can accommodate up to 6 mirror units simultaneously. Standard mirror units for bright field imaging and ultraviolet irradiation, combined with optional mirror units, can acquire various types of fluorescent images.

Open specimen chamber

The specimen chamber is open, allowing the operator to externally control reagents (chemical administration).For example, the operator can load the thin film dish onto the system, and observe the sample in the ASEM after administering a chemical to the sample. The operator can also monitor physical and chemical developments as the sample changes its volume.

Biological applications

Extended applications of optical microscope

Many biologists routinely use optical microscopes for their research. However, optical microscopy is unable to achieve resolution higher than 0.2 um due to its wavelength limitations. While scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) feature higher resolution, many samples require a lengthy preliminary treatment process including multiple dehydration and drying process steps, which usually takes a skilled technician one to a few days to complete. This is why SEM and TEM, despite their high resolution, are not as widely used as optical microscopy.

ClairScope™ is designed to observe samples in atmospheric pressure using the ASEM. It is capable of high resolution imaging of biological samples without the preliminary dehydration/drying process that requires skilled technician. Sample pre-treatment consists of simple steps of chemical administration, taking only about 10 minutes. This enhances the efficiency and yield of sample imaging.

ClairScope™ also supports imaging of the same area of view in the optical microscope on top and the ASEM at the bottom. This allows optical microscope users to first observe images they are familiar with, and proceed to high resolution imaging of a given spot of the sample. The system allows the operator to identify tissues and local existence of protein using fluorescence staining and optical microscopy, and to further study the corresponding spots using high resolution imaging of the ASEM.

ClairScope™ also allows the operator to observe live cells in the optical microscope, restrict the motion with chemicals, and apply fixation/staining as needed for high resolution imaging in the ASEM. Cells are cultured on the thin film dish in the same way as any conventional plastic dish. The researcher can culture cells in the usual procedure, observe the cells in the optical microscope, and focus on areas of interests in the ASEM for further imaging.

ClairScope™ is expected to be widely used in a variety of fields including basic biology, medicine, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics.

Other applications

Dynamic observation of chemical reaction

Real time high resolution imaging can reveal the mechanism of chemical reactions in liquid and vapor. Traditionally, this has been accomplished by TEM with an environmental cell. However, TEM can only accept thin film samples, and SEM imaging has been in demand for certain samples. ClairScope™, designed to image samples in atmospheric pressure in the ASEM, is capable of real time imaging of chemical reactions in liquid and vapor. The open top of the thin film facilitates chemical administration, and enables observation of gas emitting reactions. Furthermore, the system allows the optical microscope on top to alternately observe the same area of view as the ASEM. The system has succeeded in dynamic observation of hydrolytic reactions of plaster.

Dynamic observation of drying process

Drying is a critical process in various industries. However, it has been difficult to achieve dynamic observation of the drying process at higher resolution than optical microscopy. ClairScope™, with the open top of the thin dish, enable observation of the drying process of solvents. It has succeeded in dynamic observation of the drying process of a salt containing solvent from drying to crystallization.

Dynamic observation of electrochemical reaction

Electrochemical reactions, related to batteries, plating, corrosion, and refinement, is essential in many industries. High resolution imaging of electrochemical reactions in liquid has been a difficult issue. ClairScope™, capable of real time high resolution imaging of reactions in liquid in atmospheric pressure in the ASEM, also supports dynamic observation of electrochemical reactions. With the open top of the dish, the system is also effective in observing electrochemical reactions generating gases. It has succeeded in dynamic observation of electrochemical reactions of a sample loaded onto a prototype thin film dish incorporating an electrode in the thin film.

Basic physics

Particles in liquid are known to demonstrate Brownian motion and self assembly under certain conditions. These reactions are related to the basic motion mechanism of life, a field to be explored extensively. These reactions have been studied in optical microscopy. ClairScope™ has succeeded in real time observation of Brownian motion and self assembly of particles.

Reaction to electron beam irradiation

A high intensity electron beam can induce reactions in liquid and vapor. Using ClairScope™, the operator can induce such reaction in the ASEM for dynamic imaging, and also monitor the reaction using the optical microscope on top.

NeoScope Benchtop SEM voted European Best New Lab Product

The NeoScope benchtop SEM, born from the combined expertise of Nikon Instruments and JEOL, is the winner of the SelectScience Scientists’ Choice Award for European Best New General Lab Product 2008.

Announced at the recent ACHEMA exhibition in Germany, the Scientists' Choice Awards were based on the results of an independent poll of more than 25,000 scientists from the SelectScience online community, who were asked to nominate and vote for what they considered to be the best new products of 2008. SelectScience.net is the leading online resource for applied chemists, clinical chemists and life scientists.

“Scientists are always quick to embrace innovation and new technology,” Chay Keogh, Marketing Manager at Nikon instruments, “The NeoScope is a fresh new approach offering a powerful yet affordable benchtop SEM. The Scientist’s Choice Award confirms that our combined experience of over 150 years in pioneering imaging technology has enabled JEOL and Nikon to lead the way in providing another exciting new tool to help accelerate the pace of research in all fields.”

The SelectScience Choice Award adds to Nikon’s exclusive Perfect Focus System second place ranking in The Scientist’s top innovations of 2008.

View the Select Science Awards presentation at ACHEMA

JEM-ARM200F, An Ultimate Atomic Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope

JEOL Ltd. (Gon’emon Kurihara, President) announced a new transmission electron microscope, JEM-ARM200F, incorporating a spherical aberration corrector for the electron optic system as standard, to be distributed in March 2009.

Background

Transmission electron microscopes are designed to study the geometry and structure of substances at high resolution. They can also analyze the elements constituting substances and the status of electrons by incorporating various analyzers such as energy dispersive X-ray fluorescent spectrometer (EDS) and electron beam energy loss spectrometer (EELS).

A new technology has recently been introduced to correct spherical aberrations that have long restricted the resolving power of electron microscopes. Spherical aberration correctors significantly enhance the resolution and analytical capabilities, enabling ultimate atomic level analysis. The JEM-ARM200F is a powerful transmission electron microscope with a standard spherical aberration corrector, featuring sub angstrom resolution and atomic level analysis.

Features

• Atomic level resolution - STEM: 0.08 nm; TEM: 0.11 nm
• Standard spherical aberration corrector for electron optic system eliminating spherical aberrations
• Maximum accelerating voltage 200 kV

JEOL Ships 10,000th Scanning Electron Microscope

Industry's SEM of Choice for 31 Years

We announce with pride the shipment of the 10,000th general scanning electron microscope in 31 years since our first model, JSM-T20, was installed in 1975. We could not have achieved this milestone without your continued patronage.

The table below summarizes the cumulative total of general scanning electron microscopes shipped and the model changes over time. Many different models, from the first JSM-T20 to the latest JCM-5700, have been used for a wide range of applications. Today's achievement is only a passing point. We will continue our effort in producing superior and versatile microscopes for years to come.