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Related Concept Videos

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy01:20

Preparation of Samples for Electron Microscopy

To be visualized by an electron microscope, either transmission or scanning, biological samples need to be fixed (stabilized) so the electron beam does not destroy them and dried thoroughly (desiccated/dehydrated) so the vacuum does not affect them. Fixation needs to be done as quickly as possible because the sample properties will start changing as soon as it is removed from its natural environment. For example, in a tissue sample, the oxygen levels begin decreasing, causing an altered...
Overview of Electron Microscopy01:25

Overview of Electron Microscopy

The wavelengths of visible light ultimately limit the maximum theoretical resolution of images created by light microscopes. Most light microscopes can only magnify 1000X, and a few can magnify up to 1500X. Electrons, like electromagnetic radiation, can behave like waves, but with wavelengths of 0.005 nm, they produce significantly greater resolution up to 0.05 nm as compared to 500 nm for visible light. An electron microscope (EM) can create a sharp image that is magnified up to 2,000,000X.
Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction01:07

Electron Microscope Tomography and Single-particle Reconstruction

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be used to determine the 3D structure of biological samples with the help of techniques such as electron microscope tomography and single-particle reconstruction. While single-particle reconstruction can examine macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in vitro conditions only, tomography permits the study of cell components or small cells in vivo.
Electron Tomography
Electron tomography can be performed either in TEM or STEM (scanning transmission...
Transmission Electron Microscopy01:15

Transmission Electron Microscopy

In 1931, physicist Ernst Ruska—building on the idea that magnetic fields can direct an electron beam just as lenses can direct a beam of light in an optical microscope—developed the first prototype of the electron microscope. This development led to the development of the field of electron microscopy. In the transmission electron microscope (TEM), electrons are produced by a hot tungsten element and accelerated by a potential difference in an electron gun, which gives them up to 400 keV in...
Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
Scanning Electron Microscopy01:07

Scanning Electron Microscopy

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to study the surface features of a sample by using an electron beam that scans the sample surface in a two-dimensional manner. Typically, areas between ~1 centimeter to 5 micrometers in width can be imaged. SEM can be used to image bacteria, viruses, tissues as well as larger samples like insects. Conventional SEM gives a magnification ranging from 20X to 30,000X and spatial resolution of 50 to 100 nanometers.
Fundamental Principles
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Miniaturized Sample Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy
09:04

Miniaturized Sample Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy

Published on: July 27, 2018

Is science prepared for atomic-resolution electron microscopy?

Knut W Urban1

  • 1Institute of Solid State Research, Research Centre Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany. k.urban@fz-juelich.de

Nature Materials
|March 25, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy now precisely reveals atomic structures. Materials scientists must leverage this advanced microscopy to determine physical properties from atomic arrangements.

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Miniaturized Sample Preparation for Transmission Electron Microscopy
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Published on: July 27, 2018

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15:04

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08:04

Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography

Published on: March 12, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Physics
  • Chemistry

Background:

  • Advanced microscopy techniques are crucial for understanding material properties at the atomic level.
  • Aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (aberration-corrected TEM) has achieved remarkable precision in imaging atomic structures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the transition of aberration-corrected TEM from an imaging tool to a property-extraction platform.
  • To emphasize the role of materials scientists in utilizing high-resolution atomic data.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy for atomic-scale imaging.
  • Developing methodologies to correlate atomic arrangements with physical properties.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated unprecedented precision in revealing atomic structures using aberration-corrected TEM.
  • Established the potential for extracting physical properties directly from microscopic atomic arrangements.

Conclusions:

  • Aberration-corrected TEM provides a powerful new capability for materials characterization.
  • Materials scientists are encouraged to exploit this technology for deeper insights into material behavior.