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Microscopy

EMSL hosts a wide variety of sophisticated microscopy instruments, including electron microscopes, optical microscopes, scanning probe microscopes, and computer-controlled microscopes for automated particle analysis. These tools are used to image a range of sample types with nanoscale—and even atomic—resolution with applications to surface, environmental, biogeochemical, atmospheric, and biological science. Each of the state-of-the-art instruments and customized capabilities is equipped with features for specific applications.

• Nanoscale imaging – Many tools offer nanoscale and sub-nanoscale resolution for a wide variety of sample types, allowing users to study nanoscale chemical processes, such as interfacial electron transfer, organic thin film devices, and cell membrane proteins.
• Atomic-level imaging – EMSL users can obtain topographical information on a variety of materials, imaging down to individual atoms on a surface; this technique has been applied to nanostructures; geological samples; and biological samples, such as protein and biomolecule structures on a surface.
• Tomography – An electron microscope equipped for tomography allows users to obtain image series for three-dimensional reconstruction; complete with cryostage, this capability is primarily devoted to biological samples for morphological and immunocytochemistry studies and supports imaging of samples such as soft materials and polymers.
• Particle Analysis – A scanning electron microscope equipped with hardware and software for computer-controlled SEM/EDX analysis allows users to obtain detailed knowledge about the particle-type composition of non-volatile samples of atmospheric particles. Environmental scanning electron microscopy allows users to study hydration properties of environmental particles.
• Sample preservation – Techniques are available in environmental mode, which does not require extensive preparation procedures that can introduce imaging artifacts; live-cell and in situ imaging in liquids can be achieved with high resolution.
• Dynamic processes in real time – Tools are available to study femtosecond dynamical processes with unprecedented spatial resolution; complex reaction dynamics such as enzymatic reactions, protein-protein interactions, and interfacial electron transfer processes; protein-protein interactions, such as those involving cell signaling; and molecular interactions, such that they can be quantified at the level of a single molecule.
• NMR imaging – A 500-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging spectrometer can be used alone and integrated with confocal fluorescence microscopy; methods include mapping of biological systems with spectroscopy and diffusion.
• Complementary information – Many EMSL microscopes offer complementary probes to study different facets of samples simultaneously.

Capability Detail

Refer to the table below for a full listing, which leads to complete information about each of EMSL's microscopy instruments. Brief details about the primary microscopy tools available to EMSL users immediately follow.

• Electron microscopes with tomography, cryo, scanning, photoemission, and high-resolution (sub-nanometer) capabilities; different microscopes are dedicated to samples types, such as biological or atmospheric particles
• NMR microscopy (10-40 µm) to study the anatomy, metabolism, and transport processes of live cell cultures, biofilms, and tissue samples
• Dual Raman confocal microscope for radiological samples
• Optical microscopes to study reaction dynamics
• Single-molecule fluorescence tools to study molecular interactions in real time
• Spectroscopy tools with visible, near-, mid-, and far-infrared capabilities
• Atomic force microscopy capabilities to study nanoscale chemical processes
• Scanning probe microscopes to obtain high-resolution topographical information for a wide variety of sample types

All Related Publications Related Publications

1. Bioreduction of hematite nanoparticles by the dissimilatory iron reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.
2. Fluorescent Dye Encapsulated ZnO Particles with Cell-specific Toxicity for Potential use in Biomedical Applications.
3. Electron donor-dependent radionuclide reduction and nanoparticle formation by Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain 2CP-C.
4. Interparticle Chiral Recognition of Enantiomers: A Nanoparticle-Based Regulation Strategy.
5. Changes in the quaternary structure of amelogenin when adsorbed onto surfaces.

All Related Research Highlights Related Research Highlights

1. Submicrometer and Nanoscale Inorganic Particles Exploit the Actin Machinery to be Propelled Along Microvilli into Alveolar Cells (Tiny Particle, Big Problem?)
2. Microstructures of ZnO Films Deposited on (0001) and r-cut α-Al₂O₃ Using Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (Sapphires & Sunscreen)
3. Laser and Electrical Current-Induced Phase Transformation of In₂Se₃ Semiconductor Thin Film on Si(111) (Quick Change Artist)
4. Experimental Studies of Heterogeneous Gas-to-Particle Reactions Using Novel Particle-on-Substrate Stagnation Flow Reactor Approach (What Are the Chances?)
5. The Synergy Between Molecular Theory and Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy (Model System for NMR)

Microscopy Capabilities Available at EMSL

Instrument	Contact
Electron Microscope: Scanning, Environmental, Field Emission (FEI)	Laskin, Alexander
Electron Microscope: Transmission, High Resolution	Wang, Chongmin
Electron Microscope: Dual-Beam FIB/SEM	Arey, Bruce Saraf, Lax
Electron Microscope: Transmission, CRYO 2005	Dohnalkova, Alice
Mammalian Cell Culture	Orr, Galya
Mass Spectrometer: Single Particle -(SPLAT II)	Zelenyuk,Alla N
Microscope: Fluorescence - Single-Molecule	Hu, Dehong
Microscope: Fluorescence - Single-Molecule /Patch Clamp	Orr, Galya
Microscope: Photoemission Electron (PEEM)	Beck, Kenneth M.
Microscope: Raman Confocal	Hess, Nancy J.
Microscope: Scanning Probe - AFM Compound	Hu, Dehong
Microscope: Scanning Probe - AFM, Bioscope	Rosso, Kevin M.
Microscope: Scanning Probe - DI Nanoscope IIIa Multimode	Lea, Scott
Microscope: Scanning Probe - Dynamic Force	Rosso, Kevin M.
Microscope: Scanning Probe - STM/AFM, PicoSPM	Rosso, Kevin M.
Microscope: Scanning Probe - Variable Temperature	Lyubinetsky, Igor
Microscope: Scanning Probe -Variable Temperature UHV	Dohnalek, Zdenek
NMR Spectrometer: 500 MHz WB Bruker Advance Imaging	Ford,Joseph J
Spectrometer: Fluorescence, cryogenic	Wang, Zheming
Spectrometer: FTIR - standard	Johnson, Tim
Spectroscopy: Fluorescence, time-resolved	Wang, Zheming

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory
Phone: 509.371.6003
emsl@pnl.gov
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Last Updated: February 2010