Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched a new scanning electron microscope (SEM) which it says has improved automation.
According to the company, the Apreo 2 field emission SEM makes nanometer-scale information easier to obtain at a range of working distances and operating conditions. It features auto-focus, auto-stigmator and auto-lens alignment technology making it suitable for investigators, SEM operators and lab managers regardless of experience level.
Thermo Fisher said that it is also the first SEM on the market with a 1.0-nanometer resolution at a 10-millimeter working distance, making it easier for users to acquire high-quality images without worrying about microscope components colliding or damaging the sample. High-resolution imaging at long working distance also enables users to pair the best imaging conditions with optimized analytical data collection.
Advancements to Apreo 2 include improved imaging performance, compared to the Apreo 1, at very low beam energies, making it applicable for nanomaterials, polymers and hydrated samples. Finally, improvements at higher beam currents allow for higher-contrast imaging, and improved analytical throughput, compared to the Apreo 1, and when combined with ColorSEM, scientists can generate analytical results even faster than the Apreo 1.
Apreo 2 integrates Thermo Fisher's ColorSEM technology, enabling researchers to view and analyze live color images within the SEM user interface (UI) without switching to Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis software. Using Apreo 2, researchers can obtain elemental data almost instantly, quickly identifying areas of interest for further exploration, the company said.
‘Apreo 2 is the most advanced SEM platform on the market, enabling companies and universities to accelerate their nanometer-scale research,’ said Rosy Lee, vice president of materials science at Thermo Fisher. ‘By integrating ColorSEM into the Apreo 2, we've designed it for researchers to view and analyze meaningful elemental content differentiated by color directly from within the SEM UI and acquire elemental data up to 10 times faster than was possible with conventional techniques.’
This story uses material from Thermo Fisher, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.