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Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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.
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: May 16, 2026

Preparation and Observation of Thick Biological Samples by Scanning Transmission Electron Tomography
08:04

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

Published on: March 12, 2017

Transmission electron microtomography in soft materials.

Hiroshi Jinnai1, Toshihiko Tsuchiya, Sohei Motoki

  • 1Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. hjinnai@cstf.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Microscopy (Oxford, England)
|November 28, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transmission electron microtomography (ET) now provides quantitative 3D imaging of polymer nanostructures with subnanometer resolution. This advanced technique offers new structural insights for polymers and energy applications like fuel cells.

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Last Updated: May 16, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Science
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Advanced imaging is crucial for understanding polymer nanostructures.
  • Traditional methods have limitations in resolving complex 3D architectures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in 3D imaging techniques for polymer nanostructures.
  • To highlight the capabilities of transmission electron microtomography (ET).

Main Methods:

  • Focus on transmission electron microtomography (ET).
  • Discusses advancements like scanning optics for ET.
  • Utilizes conventional electron microscopes at 200 kV.

Main Results:

  • ET achieves subnanometer resolution for quantitative 3D polymer nanostructure imaging.
  • Enables analysis of hierarchical structures from nanometers to hundreds of nanometers.
  • Provides structural information unobtainable by other methods.

Conclusions:

  • ET is a versatile tool for polymer science and energy applications (e.g., fuel cells).
  • Offers direct acquisition of structural data typically from microscopy or scattering methods.
  • Enables comprehensive characterization of complex nanoscale materials.